On April 6 2005, Cui Tiankai, Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs arranged an interview with Minister Horinouchi Hidehisa of Japan's Embassy in China, stating China's stance on issues concerning China-Japan relations.
Cui indicated that this year was the 60th anniversary of the victory of the Anti-Japanese War for China. In such a special year, Japan should make active efforts to stabilize and improve bilateral relations in the principle of "taking the history as the mirror while looking into the future". The Chinese side expresses strong resentment with the negative move of the Japanese side on its relations with China.
As for the newly compiled history textbooks of Japan, Cui stated that the issue of school textbooks in essence is whether Japan could correctly view and treat its invasion history of militarism and whether Japan could educate its young generation to view history rationally. Although the textbooks were compiled by civilians, the Japanese government was the censor. Therefore it reflected the position of the Japanese government. China demanded Japan to sincerely reflect upon its invasion history, honestly fulfill its promise, and adopt effective measures in an effort to eliminate the exceptionally bad effects.
On the issue of East China Sea, Cui said that China had consistently proposed that both sides should resolve the disputes over the demarcation of East China Sea through negotiations. Before that, no party would adopt unilateral actions. It is learned that the Japanese government has established the mining rights and started trial exploitation in the disputed sea area between China and Japan. China is deeply concerned of the issue and demands the Japanese government to act cautiously. In view of the reality, the right choice for resolving the East Sea issue is to "put aside disputes and engage in joint exploitation". It is hoped that both sides made joint efforts to properly handle the specific issue and turn the East China Sea into a sea of friendship and cooperation.
On the issue of Dalai's visit to Japan, Cui pointed out that the Chinese side was deeply concerned of the act that Japan allowed Dalai to visit Japan. Tibet is an inalienable part of China's territory and Tibetan affairs are purely internal affairs of China, which does not allow any intervention by foreign forces. Dalai is not an ordinary religious figure but a political exile who has long been engaged in activities aimed at splitting China in the name of religion. The political intention of his trip to Japan is obvious. China hopes that Japan could take practical actions to fulfill its commitments and prevent Dalai from visiting Japan and that Japan would not provide stages for Dalai to engage in any political activities.