Chinese Youth Day Attitude Research

The year of 2005 marked the 60th anniversary of the Victory of the World War AgainstFascism. People throughout the world were regretful and sorrowful on the war, while theJapanese government still stuck to its gun and denied to apologize for its war crime. InApril 2005, the Japanese Ministry of Education approved the right-wing history textbooks,which aroused the indignation of Asian people, especially the Chinese people, and a largescale of anti-Japan erupted. And as consequences, Japan's bid for a permanent membershipof the United Nations Security Council was strongly opposed by most Asian countries,China included. What's more, due to the provocative attitude of the Japanese governmenton various issues between China and Japan, from the problem of Diaoyu Island to the OilResources in East China Sea, from Taiwan Question as well as to the Japanese PrimeMinisters' visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, the China-Japan relationship deteriorated badly.According to the feedbacks received from the poll, the Chinese youth's attitude towardsJapan can be divided into the following categories: the radical, the rational, the indifferent,and the middle.Apart from the historic issues, the Chinese youth's concern over the China-Japanrelationship is focused on another two aspects, i.e., the economic issues and the Chinesenational interest. Some young people are hostile to the Japanese infiltration into Chineseeconomy, and they show strong support to the Chinese national economy. Their politicalindignation is transformed into boycotts against the Japanese products in daily life.National interest is another important standard for many Chinese young people to considerwhat is right and what is wrong in the China-Japan relationship. They deem Japan as aviolator of the Chinese national interest in the fields of state sovereignty and energyresources. To many Chinese young men, national interest surmounts everything else.On the setbacks in the China-Japan relationship, the Chinese youth think that Japanshould be mainly responsible;besides, some of the Chinese acts also have impacts on that.The major responsibility lies on the Japanese side.On the China-Japan relationship, both countries have the problem of public opinionguidance. Many right-wing forces in Japan carry out a relentless propaganda of againstChina, resulting in the enlargement of grassroots foundation for the right wing. Meanwhile,some of the Chinese young men also think that Chinese media guidance and the patrioticeducation are also sometimes misleading.According to Chinese youth's attitudes towards Japan, there are three types: the hostiletype, the middle type or inhospitable type, and the friendly type. The people who assumethe hostile attitude towards Japan are comparatively obstinate. The people taking the middleattitude don't have a firm stance. Their indifference won't greatly influence theChina-Japan relationship. However, they include some rational ones. They are impartialtowards Japan, can view problems dispassionately and impersonally, and can easily seizethe substance. And so, they are most likely to put forward concrete and effective solutionsto improving the China-Japan relationship. The last friendly type of people, most of whomare rational ones, is the major power of pushing forward the normal China-Japanrelationship.Many Chinese young people are not optimistic about the China-Japan relationship. Theyconsider that the rightist Koizumi administration is a factor of blocking the development ofthe China-Japan relationship. There are still many problems between China and Japan.Before they are solved, China-Japan relationship will stagnate temporarily. Nevertheless,most of them still hope for a good relationship between China and Japan.The Chinese young people firstly hope the governments of both countries can play animportant role in improving the China-Japan relationship. Secondly, they hope theeconomic and trade cooperation can promote the political relationship. Besides, they alsohope the non-governmental organizations and the friendly exchanges between the people ofboth countries can help change the present situation.At present, and even in the near future, the China-Japan relationship bristles withdifficulties. However, against the peace and development background of the world, theChina-Japan relationship will be favorable in the long-term future.