Kouizumi prepares for China test

Koizumi's visit is designed to patch up relations after rows over Japan's war record

By staff and wires

TOKYO, Japan -- Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visits China on Monday with the aim of easing concerns about Japan's revisionist approach to its wartime history.

China and South Korea, Koizumi's destination the following week, remain anxious about school texts that ignore World War Two atrocities and the prime minister's August visit to a Tokyo shrine where war criminals are honored.

Resurgent Japanese militarism is another concern. On Saturday six Japanese military aircraft flew to Pakistan carrying relief goods for Afghan refugees.

Beijing may accept Japan's part in support for U.S.-led operations against terrorism in return for conciliatory gestures on Japanese wartime aggression. But demonstrations are predicted in South Korea.

Koizumi will begin his China trip with a visit to the Marco Polo Bridge southwest of Beijing, where Japan used an exchange of fire with Chinese troops in July 1937 as a pretext to invade.

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Observers say China's desire to succeed as host of a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders later this month may mute criticism and give Koizumi the opportunity to refresh ties with an apology.

Fine line

However, Koizumi will have to tread a fine line between China's sensibilities and those of the many conservative Japanese who believe Tokyo has apologized enough.

Koizumi is expected to meet with Chinese President Jiang Zemin during his one-day visit. Talks with South Korean President Kim Dae-jung the following week are also being planned.

Longer-term, China's worries about tighter U.S-Japan security ties could push Beijing to try to strengthen a regional grouping that brings it together with Russia and four Central Asian states.

The "Shanghai Initiative" was launched in June to counter Islamic militancy, and took a common stance against Washington's plans for a national missile defense shield.

Beijing is also concerned that Japan would help the United States protect Taiwan from an attack by the mainland.

China regards Taiwan as a rebel province and has threatened to attack if the island declares independence or delays reunification talks indefinitely.