Japanese accuse PM of poor neighborly relations
(mainichi.co.jp)
Updated: 2005-04-18 15:02

More than seven in 10 people polled by the Mainichi Shimbun believe that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is not doing enough to improve Japan's strained relations with China and South Korea.

The approval rating for the Koizumi Cabinet also declined 1 point to 42 percent from the March poll while the disapproval rating rose 2 points to 35 percent.

On Saturday and Sunday, the Mainichi Shimbun telephoned 1,019 people aged 20 or over randomly selected from across the country.

According to the results, 76 percent responded that they do not think the prime minister is making sufficient effort to improve Tokyo's relations with Beijing and Seoul.

Only 16 percent said Koizumi is doing enough to that end.

Among those who expressed support for the Koizumi Cabinet, 63 percent said the prime minister has failed to endeavor sufficiently to break the deadlocked ties with these two neighbors.

Of those who do not approve of the Koizumi administration, nearly 90 percent said he is not doing enough.

When asked about the causes of anti-Japan demonstrations in China, 34 percent cited the domestic situation in China while 26 percent attribute them to the Japanese government's interpretation of history involving Japan's wartime invasion of Asian countries.

More than one in 10 -- or 13 percent -- pointed out that visits by Koizumi to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine where Class-A war criminals are enshrined have offended Asian victims of Japan's atrocities during the war.

While 11 percent pointed to Japan's bid to obtain permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council. Less than 10 percent cited the territorial dispute between Japan and China over diaoyu islands.

When questioned about the pros and cons of Koizumi's controversial visits to Yasukuni Shrine, 45 percent said he should no longer visit the shrine, up 4 points from the previous survey in December.

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