The First Meeting of
The Japan-China Joint History Research Committee
(Summary)
December 2006
The first meeting of the Japan-China Joint History Research Committee (Japanese Chairman: Dr. Shinichi Kitaoka, Professor, University of Tokyo, Chinese Chairman: Dr. Bu Ping, Director of the Institute of Modern History, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, see attached list of committee members) was held on December 26 and 27 at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing. Plenary sessions and Concurrent sessions were held, after which both sides' committee members paid a courtesy call on Mr. Li Zhaoxing, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China.
I. Schedule
| DAte | Program |
|---|---|
| December 26 (Tue) | 16:00-16:30 Opening Ceremony (open to press) 16:30-19:00 Plenary Session 19:30-21:00 Dinner hosted by the Chinese Committee Members |
| December 27 (Wed) | 09:00-12:00 Plenary Session 13:00-15:00 Subcommittee Sessions 15:15-16:00 Closing Ceremony 16:45-17:15 Press Conference by Dr. Kitaoka, Japanese Chairman 17:30-18:00 Courtesy call on Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing |
II. Summary
1. Opening Ceremony
(1) Outline of the Speech by Dr. Bu Ping, Chinese Chairman
The historical issue is one of the major obstacles to relations among East Asian nations. In post-war Japan, there seems to be words and deeds which don't accept its responsibility for the war and deny even the historical facts of its aggressive war. It offends the victim country and is the reason why the historical issue has not yet been solved. Through this joint research we should get over such obstacles and observe the basic principles written in the political documents exchanged between Japan and China.
It is possible to minify differences in the recognition of history through mutual exchange and understanding. Universal values such as the championship of world peace and opposition to aggressive war should be the premise. A common historical perception should be built based first on the joint confirmation of historical facts. We should provide the public with a foundation for communication and exchange, by gathering historical materials in various fields as faithfully as possible, excluding unreliable ones and leaving truth, analyzing and researching.
(2) Outline of the Speech by Dr. Shinichi Kitaoka, Japanese Chairman
First, it is difficult to share a common historical perception, and there is an excessive gap between Japan and China. However, I think it is possible to narrow that gap somehow. If we hold dialogues based on facts, this will not be so difficult. No one in Japan will deny that in the past, Japan sent military forces to China, and many Chinese people were victimized. It would be possible to sort out this historical perception to a considerable extent though we cannot reach complete consensus.
The second point is the fact that Japan-China relations are so important. There are many fields where the two countries can cooperate, such as falling birthrate and aging population, resources and energy, and the environment. We must therefore not let the historical perception block such cooperation, but instead make use of joint research on history so that we can tackle tasks in the present and future which should be done through politics under ordinary circumstances.
Third, I pay attention to the fact that President Hu Jintao praised the role of the Nationalist Party in the anti-Japanese war. Various historical perceptions are being assessed in China, and when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited China last October, both sides mutually valued peaceful development each other. It is therefore important to look into history as a whole like this way.
In the fourth place, I, as an academic, am very interested in new materials and researches. As Confucius said "No one knows the truth as much as those who love it; no one loves it as much as those who delight in it," so I would like to enjoy broadening my "intellectual horizon" through this joint research on history.
2. Plenary Session
On the first day, the committee members of both countries introduced themselves and their studies, including what kind of issues they have been following, to deepen mutual understanding. On the second day, they discussed how to carry out studies and what themes should be taken up.
(1) Purpose of the Joint Research
The chairmen of both countries reaffirmed that the purpose of the joint research was, in the spirit of facing history and heading towards the future, based on the principle of the three political documents between Japan and China, to conduct joint research on the 2000-year history of exchanges between Japan and China, their unfortunate history in modern times and the development of the Japan-China relationship in the 60 post-war years, to deepen objective perception toward history through this research and promote mutual understanding, and to present the results of the research in 2008 at the 30th Anniversary of the conclusion of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and China.
(2) The Scope and Agenda Items of the Joint Research
A frank and wide-ranging exchange of views was conducted on the scope and agenda items of the joint research. It was decided that each subcommittee meeting would have a free discussion on its research theme. Concrete research themes would be decided on at the next Meeting.
(3) Itinerary of the Work Schedule
Aiming at bringing about substantial results in 2008, the members exchanged views on the details of the work schedule and agreed that the next Meeting would be held in Japan for about two days between March 18 and 21, 2007. They also agreed that the third plenary session would be held around December 2007 and that the fourth (the final one) would be held in June 2008, while having subcommittee sessions as needed. The subcommittee sessions would refer work to collaborative researchers accordingly if need should arise.
3. Subcommittee Sessions
The members split themselves into two subcommittees -- "ancient, medieval and early-modern" and "modern and contemporary" -- and freely discussed how to decide agenda items and research themes. Both subcommittees decided to come up with concrete research themes at the next session.
The modern and contemporary subcommittee decided to start by reviewing the researches of both countries and then to discuss various problems, dividing their target period into three parts -- 1) before World War II, i.e. from the start of the early-modern era till the early part of the Showa Era, 2) from the Manchurian Incident till the end of the War, and 3) the post-war period.
4. Closing Ceremony
A brief reporting on the discussions of each subcommittee session was made. The members then decided to hold the next meeting -- plenary session and subcommittee sessions -- in Japan for about two days between March 18 and 21, 2007. They also reconfirmed the agenda items on which the Japanese and Chinese members had agreed this time.
III. Courtesy Call on Mr. Li Zhaoxing, Minister for Foreign Affairs of China
1. Mr. Li Zhaoxing, Minister for Foreign Affairs of China, made the following remarks to the Japanese committee members:
(1) I welcome the visit by the committee members of both the Japanese and Chinese sides. The research project was agreed upon between the Chinese and Japanese leaders in October 2006 when Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, visited China, and in November 2006 I reached an agreement on its framework with Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. I am delighted that the first meeting has just been held, and appreciate the contribution made by each member toward the promotion of mutual understanding.
(2) Although the two countries have an unfortunate period in the modern age following a 2000-year history of friendly exchanges, the history of the two nations should not be a burden on them but should serve as the driving force in developing friendly cooperative relations. Next year will mark the 35th anniversary of the normalization of Japan-China diplomatic relations. I hope that in that commemorative year this research will raise the bilateral relations to new heights, and enhance mutual understanding through deepening objective recognition of historical facts.
2. Representing the Japanese committee members, Dr. Shinichi Kitaoka, chairman, stated as follows:
(1) Japan and China have a lot of tasks which they should work together in many areas. They need to do so, for example, in such fields as the declining birthrate and the aging population, resources and energy, and the environment. I hope that the outcome of this research will help the politicians in addressing their primary tasks for the present and future.
(2) I am satisfied that the committees have made a better start than expected by engaging in frank debate for two days. We all intend to exert efforts to produce final results in 2008.
Reference
List of Committee Members
[Japanese Side]
(Chairman)
Shinichi KITAOKA
Professor, Faculty of Law, The University of Tokyo
(Subcommittee on the Ancient, Medieval and Modern Eras)
Masayuki YAMAUCHI
Professor, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo
Yoshiaki KAWAMOTO
Professor, Graduate School of Humanities, Kyushu University
Kazuyuki TSURUMA
Professor, Faculty of Literature, Gakushuin University
Hideaki KIKUCHI
Professor, College of Liberal Arts, International Christian University (ICU)
Tsuyoshi KOJIMA
Associate Professor, Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, The University of Tokyo
(Subcommittee on the Modern and Contemporary Eras)
Shinichi KITAOKA
Professor, Faculty of Law, The University of Tokyo
Tomoyuki KOJIMA
Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University
Sumio HATANO
Professor, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Tsukuba
Kazuya SAKAMOTO
Professor, Graduate School of Law, Osaka University
Junichiro SHOJI
Professor, Chief of First Research Office, Department of Military History, National Institute for Defense Studies of the Ministry of Defense
[Chinese Side]
(Chairman)
BU Ping
Director, Institute of Modern History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
(Subcommittee on the Ancient, Medieval and Modern Eras)
JIANG Lifeng
Director, Institute of Japanese Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (Absent)
TANG Chongnan
Professor, Institute of World History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
WANG Xiaoqiu
Professor, Department of History, Peking University
Director, Research Institute of China's Foreign Relations History, Peking University
WANG Xinsheng
Professor, Department of History, Peking University
(Subcommittee on the Modern and Contemporary Eras)
BU Ping
Director, Institute of Modern History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
WANG Jianlang
Deputy Director, Institute of Modern History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
RONG Weimu
Vice Chief Editor, Editorial Section of "The Journal of Studies of China's Resistance War Against Japan", Institute of Modern History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
TAO Wenzhao
Senior Fellow, Institute of American Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
XU Yong
Professor, Department of History, Peking University
ZANG Yunhu
Associate Professor, Department of History, Peking University
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