Sino Japan News Roundup

1. As Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi is going to visit Washington next month, US congressmen Henry Hyde and hosue Speaker Dennis Hastert sent a letter asking Mr. Koizumi not visit Yasukuni Shrine, Mr. Koizumi showed his unhappiness towards the letter. (Asahi Shimbun)
2. “drinking the water and remembering the well digger”, (饮水不忘掘井人),Chinese ambassador Wang Yi visits Museum of former Japanese Prime Minister Ohhira Masayoshi in Kagawa Prefecture, saying, China is still remembering old (dead) Japanese friends. (xinhua)
3. Dollar slides as China lets yuan strengthen, exchange rate between RMB yuan to US dollar is now 8:1, compared to 8:27:1. (Reuters)

An Apology

It hasn't been easy for the updates. Because of a publishing problem, I haven't been able to update the site for nearly a week. I apologize for the problem, and will try to catch up with all the news that is going on in DC, Tokyo and Beijing.

At the same time, please send in your comments, suggeestions, etc. Thanks.

for Chinese Graudates:Job, Job, Job

Every May, when American college graudates are ready to pack up and head to wherever a job takes, most of their Chinese countparts still wait to get a job offer, and most likely they can't and won't get one.

According to a recent survery, 6o percent of Chinese students who graduate this year can't find a job in the second half of 2006. the reason, "The number of graduates will increase by 22 percent over the previous year to reach 4.13 million while the job market can only soak up 1.66 million new graduates, down 22 percent on the previous year", accroding a reported cited by Xinhua News Agency.

It is not unusual for a college graudate to find a warehouse job, or to work as a clerk for a "10 yuan" discount store. Even college students wonder why the road to a career gets narrower and narrower?

Sino Japan News Roudup

District of Chaoyang in Beijing sets up a training base for pet dogs, in an attempt to train 32,000 dogs inside the region. The district government put out a fund to train the dog owners Free of charge, and also provides free taxi ride for both owners and dogs. Dogs are being treated better than people……(Xinhua)

India is working on free trade agreements with China, Japan and South Korea as part of a concerted effort to strengthen its regional ties. (Reuters)

At China's request, first China-Japan-South Korea Latin American Dialogue was held in Beijing. Energy, Natural Resources, etc, China is strengthening ties with South America to counter Washington's traditonal role in this area. (Asahi Shimbun)

Taiwan's leading party is considering a date to celebrate victory over Japanese invasion in 1896. (Yomiuri Shimbun)

Wen and Koizumi among Time's 100

Wen Jiabao, Koizumi among Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of the world. Other world political and opinion leaders include George W Bush, Pope Benedict, US senator Hillary Clinton, Condi Rice, Bill and Melinda Gates. (Time)

Japan’s growing Insularity

Robert Dujarric, a visiting research fellow at Japan Institute of International affairs, speaks at a discussion in Washington DC.

Japan, with more people traveling overseas, and more foreigners coming to study or work, is becoming more…, Isolated?

One example is its security issue, compared to its gigantic economy, security in Japan is “handicapped”. Japan’s foreign policy towards Korea and China makes it more isolated. And also a shortage of people who understand Korea and China also contributes to the problem.

Another example given by Mr. Dujarric, is Japan’s lack of confidence in relations with other countries, especially its most important one, with the United States. Japan heavily relies on “friends of Japan”, such as former deputy secretary of state Armitage. When Armitage exit from the Bush administration, it has caused concerns in Japanese side.

He also mentioned other facts such as less Japanese professors teach in the US or UK colleges. Mr. Dujarric proposed “Mansfield program” as a model to improve Japan’s internationalization process.

Visit Mr. Dujarric's Blog on Japan China Economic Relations.

Sino Japan News Roundup

• Japan’s reducing children and thus population in general may partly to be blamed for lack of OBGY doctors. High demand, risk of being sued, stress all contribute to New Pains Suffered at Childbirth. (Washington Post)
• First ever railway to Tibet, which all rails have been put on place today, will be offically opreating on July 1. Tibet, which is called "the roof of the world" will be accessible through rail for the first time. (Xinhua News)

• Japan's 2nd ranking diplomat visits Beijing, to meet his counterpart, Chinese Deputy foreign minster Dai Binguo, in a refreshed effort to open a door for Koizumi-Hu Jintao summit. How Chinese side reacts is not clear, but Mr. Koizumi's Yasukuni visit will still be a biggest obsticle for such a summit. (Asahi Shimbun)