Poll: Koizumi Should Work Harder on Relations with China
Monday, April 18, 2005 Posted: 03:45 PM JST
A survey last week-end by the Japanese daily Mainichi Shinbun finds that more than seven out of ten people feel that Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi doesn't work hard enough on improving relations with China and South Korea.
Only 16 percent say Koizumi is doing enough to improve Tokyo's relations with Beijing and Seoul. The percentage was especially high among people who disapprove of the Koizumi administration. Nearly 90 percent of them feel the Prime Minister has failed to improve the strained ties.
Some 34 percent of the respondents believe that the domestic situation in China is the causes of anti-Japan demonstrations, 26 percent attribute them to the Japanese government's interpretation of history.
Asked what the flash points are, 13 percent mention Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine, 11 percent Japan's bid to obtain permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council and less 10 percent believe it is because of the territorial dispute between Japan and China over the Senkaku Islands.
A majority of the respondents, or 45 percent, say the Prime Minister should no longer visit the shrine; 42 percent believe it is fine if he continues.
The Mainichi Shimbun telephoned 1,019 people aged 20 or over randomly selected from across the country.
Keywords: national_news
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