Yasukuni+N.Korea: SinoJapan's Double Whammy

North Korea's Missiles did stir up a wave around the world, but it also fans up a new wave of Japan's already worsened feeling towards China.

Japan, along with the U.S. and UK, submitted a UN resolution to condemn North Korea, it is obvious that Japan is the one who did the most of the work, drifting, negotiating, etc. However, China, along with Russia, prefer a UN Presidential Statement, a non legally binding one instead of a resolution. Beijing also calls for calm in dealing the issue.

China's attitude is in a great contradiction to Japan's swift actions. Tokyo put out economic sanctions against North Korean ships and officials, and drifted and submitted a UN resolution on the same day of the missiles launch.

Tokyo certainly didn't hide their dissatisfactions toward China. Cabinet Seceretary Shinzo Abe, the leading candidate to succeed Prime Minister Koizumi this Sepember,, said in a press briefing, "間違ってもこのような事を行う北朝鮮に対してシンパシーを持っていると疑われるようなことがあってはならないのではないだろうかと"(Even it maybe wrong It is no doubt that you cannot show any sympathy towards North Korea)."

Considering already over 7o% of Japanese dislike China, and how emotional the missiles issue provoked to Japanese people, I am not sure how China's dealing North Korea will further negatively affect relations with Japan, However, I am sure that Japan will be closely watch China's actions, and will take note.