links for 2007-04-12

“Chinese and Japanese citizens have found themselves inextricably linked by strong cultural bonds. …”

“SPIEGEL: Would you kick out a mathematics student who failed a course in the teachings of Mao Zedong? Xu: No, the student can repeat the test six months later. …”

Tokyo – Japan said Tuesday it would “prudently” consider a US request for its participation in a complaint at the World Trade Organisation accusing China of copyright abuse.

Notable mostly for its headline. “There is every likelihood, in fact, that tough actions on the part of the US could be counter-productive especially at a time when the US economy shows some signs of being impacted by inflationary pressures and a possible

CNN runs a Reuters factsheet outlining the Sino-Japanese relationship.

Trade volume between China and Japan hit a record US$211.3 billion in 2006, accounting for 17.2 percent of Japan’s overall foreign trade, and China is expected to surpass the United States to become Japan’s largest trade partner in 2007, said a senior off

The government expressed “great regret and strong dissatisfaction” at the U.S. decision to file the complaints, Commerce Ministry spokesman Wang Xinpei said on the ministry’s Web site.

Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte discussed Darfur in a late-night phone call,

“The worst nightmare of China’s leaders is a national protest movement of discontented urban and rural groups united against the regime by the shared fervor of nationalism. Similar mass movements that accused leaders of failing to defend the nation agai

“CHINA and Japan last night agreed to an extensive program of co-operation on environmental repair and energy savings, as the two Asian giants began working to put their troubled relationship on a new footing.”

“Recent get-tough moves by the Bush administration are meant to avert a worse crisis – and to ameliorate Congress’s concerns about a growing trade gap.”

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao called for improved ties with Japan on Thursday in a speech to the Japanese parliament, but urged Tokyo not to forget its past military aggressions in Asia.