But I do doubt the wisdom of assuming that eight or 10 politicians will ever solve this problem during a meeting at a conference center, in Italy or any other country.
Japan reiterated its demand for an apology, saying the Chinese government failed to control the crowds. Although Chinese leaders have described the protests as spontaneous outbursts, authorities here normally exercise tight control over any show of political sentiment; police were seen cooperating with protest leaders in several cities. "The primary responsibility" for the rise in tension, Takashima said at a news conference,
"lies on those mobs that attacked Japanese Embassy and diplomatic installations and injured Japanese nationals."
But Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said on Sunday that China had no intention of apologizing for the violence,
and Tang repeated that refusal Monday, saying the burden was on Japan to address its past more completely,
Takashima said. He said the Chinese leaders pointed in particular to a textbook recently approved by the Japanese Education Ministry that,
according to Chinese reports, refers to the Nanjing massacre of 1937 -- in which historians estimate that 200,000-300,000 people were killed -- as an "incident."
Tang and Li also objected to Japan's policies on Taiwan, Takashima said at a briefing.
Japan's posture on the Taiwan issue has been a subject of growing concern among Chinese officials as they weigh the future of relations with Tokyo.