Embassy publishes guidelines for Japanese fans

Before the Olympics, the Japanese Embassy published guidelines to Japanese fans, including a warning not to take pro-Japan flags and banners into Olympic stadiums.

The embassy distributed 45,000 booklets to Japanese fans and sent its staff to sensitive contests such as soccer and baseball matches, to make sure the overheated atmosphere did not lead to incidents.

"The friendly atmosphere at the Games shows that relations are improving," said Jin Xide, an analyst at the Japan Study Institute of China's Academy of Social Sciences. He added that the two governments had recently been making great efforts to improve relations. The public was following the governments' lead and organizing more grassroots communication, which was in turn promoting greater government cooperation. "We are entering a virtuous cycle."

However he stressed that "Grassroots goodwill towards Japan is just beginning to take shape." He said, "We can't expect to erase all the historical problems between China and Japan through one sports event."

He said the development of Sino-Japan relations depends on Japan's right wing. "Things could change if the right wing returns to center stage."

"For instance, if they resume prayers at the Yasukuni Shrine, or make statements that offend Chinese sensitivities. And if they do not amend their textbooks."

Jin Xide said whether relations between Chinese and Japanese people continue to improve depends on the Japanese government.

Kato Yoshikazu wrote that, "The Beijing Olympics will promote mutual understanding between the two countries. But whether the relationship between China and Japan will move on to the next level is something we are still concerned about."

(China.org.cn by Wang Wei and Hou Xiaoying, August 22, 2008)