Japan PM Clashes With Neighbors Over History

T O K Y O, July 11 -- There is a saying that there is no "new" history in Asia, and this week, the long and wary histories of Japan, China, and Korea were grinding into each other again like huge tectonic plates.

On Monday, just as it appeared that the South Koreans and the Japanese were making real progress trying to put their long, contentious history aside, Japan's new and charismatic Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi turned his attention to a different, and difficult, diplomatic problem.

The prime minister urged America's new ambassador to Japan, the distinguished politician Howard Baker, to call for more discipline among American troops stationed on Okinawa. This in direct response to last week's arrest of an American staff sergeant, on suspicion of raping a local woman.

"Such incidents should not be allowed to take place," Mr. Koizumi reportedly said. "I ask you to reinforce discipline and guidance.'

This was very big news in Japan, and there has been a lot of angry talk here that perhaps it's time the Americans, and their 50,000 troops stationed in Japan, most in Okinawa, should go home.

Revisionism Run Amuck

On the same Monday, Japan rejected a major revision of a controversial Japanese history textbook. Critics say that as a result, the book now almost completely ignores the massive atrocities committed by Japan during the Second World War.

In particular, Koreans are upset that the horrendous sexual enslavement of 100,000 Korean women for Japanese troops is barely mentioned.

South Korean President Kim Dae-jung says that he is shocked by Japan's refusal to revise the government-approved textbooks, and says his government will continue to demand the Japanese take action to reflect historic reality.

The Koreans were upset enough that on Monday, President Kim refused to meet a high level Japanese delegation.Twenty-five South Korean lawmakers from Korea's Ruling Millennium Democratic party, along with its opposition, said the Japanese ambassador should be thrown out and the Japanese Embassy in South Korea closed. There is serious talk of a boycott of Japanese goods.