China&#146;s snub

last updated 8 January 2015

Tokyo

Chinese Deputy Premier Wu Yi abruptly scrapped a planned meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, greatly angering Japanese officials. Ministers appeared on just about every Japanese TV and radio talk show to denounce the “rudeness” of Wu, who left the country after calling off the meeting. “There is not even a word of apology over the sudden cancellation,” said Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura. “Such things go against international manners.” The move was seen as a calculated snub. Before dissing Koizumi, Wu spent all day meeting with Japanese business leaders, who favor more trade and better relations with China. Koizumi recently angered China by visiting a shrine that honors Japanese veterans, including some war criminals linked to atrocities against the Chinese during World War II.