China steps up anti Japanese campaign ahead of Asian cup game

As the Asian cup match between Japan and China approaches Japanese politicians, and ex-patriots living in China, are bracing themselves for another round of verbal and possibly physical attacks from Chinese soccer supports and politicians.

Despite repeated calls from Japanese authorities for the match to be about soccer and not outside issues, and muted calls from Chinese sports officials for a peaceful game, that have contained shrouded ‘digs’ at the Japanese media, tensions are running high before the much anticipated China-Japan match that will be screened world wide and is expected to be viewed in 500 million plus household in Asia, Europe and America.

During previous Japanese matches the actions of Chinese fans has drawn world wide attention, except in China where the media has ignored the issue and chosen to focus on attacking current Japanese politicians and people over the actions of their distant predecessors that are still widely disputed by historians on all sides.

Chinese fans reportedly jeered and called during the Japanese national anthem, taunted players, and threatened to mob the Japanese national side after they defeated Thailand on the 24 of July, forcing the team coach to retreat before all of the players could enter.

Chinese crowds also raised banners bearing the words "Looking into history, apologize to Asia people" referring to aggression carried out by the Japan’s ousted wartime government which has no historical ties to the present parliament.

Only 2,000 of the 65,000 stadium seats have been filled by Japanese fans, who are expected to be outnumbered 3 to 1 by the security guards assigned to police the match.

China is expected to take extra precautions during the match including strict segregation of fans, and the use of plain clothes officers to prevent objects from being thrown in to the Japanese area of the stadium

Successive Japanese governments have offered apologies to Chinese and Korean nationals for their treatment during world war two, which has been internal and internationally recognized as a crime against humanity, but have refused to recognize Chinese statistics that are widely seen as inaccurate or unverifiable by international bodies.

The Chinese government has made no moves to officially distinguish between pre and post occupation governments in Japan or to recognize internationally compiled records of the 1931 – 1945 conflict which differ from Chinese historical records in many areas, and the Chinese media has repeatedly used conflicts of interest over territory and fossil fuel exploration to reignite sentiments against Japan.

Taiwan and Hong Kong, which also suffered under the expansionist Japanese government, have made little comment on the issue, though Taiwanese newspapers have expressed their discomfort at the actions of Chinese fans.

There is little anti China sentiment in Japan, with much of it concentrated among right wing activists who have little public support and only minor political influence.

Korea, which co-hosted the world cup with Japan, managed to separate sports and national feelings during the cup match which was widely held as a reawakening of soccer in Asia.

Additional reporting courtesy of the Taipei Times.

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