The Unpleasant Side of an Unpleasant Business

Although the dust has long settled from the violent anti-Japanese riots that rocked China during 2005, and much of the physical damage that was caused has now been repaired, it would appear the diplomatic repercussions are set to drag on well into 2006. Particularly where issues of responsibility and compensation are concerned.

A fact that was highlighted earlier this month, with the release of a report by the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, detailing the direct physical costs of the riots to Japanese interests.

According to the report, made to the House of Councilors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee this Thursday, Japan suffered 77 Million Yen in damages during riots across China; Including damage to store, vehicles, consular facilities and businesses.

An official breakdown of these cost lists approximately 60 Million Yen as being damage to three diplomatic buildings:

• The Japanese Embassy - Beijing
• The Japanese Consular Building - Shanghai
• The Japanese Ambassador's residence - Shanghai

With the remaining 17 Million being attributed to damage to 40 Japanese businesses that were targeted by rioters during the disturbances.

The costs however exclude the economic impact brought on by lost business and increased running costs since the riots.

As yet, neither full compensation nor a state level apology for the damage has been forthcoming from China. Beijing has also declined to accept responsibility for the damage.

Blame Game

Officially, China holds Japan responsible for the riots, and associated damage, based on the premise that Tokyo 'provoked Chinese citizens into action' through its own irrisponsible behaviour.

As such, Beijing has cited the 'root causes' of the riot as being public anger caused by;

• Tokyo's highlighting of China's poor record on Human Rights
• The continuation of Sino-Japanese territorial and maritime boundary disputes
• Tokyo's stance towards Chinese-Taiwan, including its refusal to bar pro-independence leaders from entering Japan
• Tokyo's attitude towards disputed areas of Sino-Japanese history

"The main problem now is the Japanese government has done a series of things that have hurt the feelings of the Chinese people, on the Taiwan issue, some international issues including human rights and especially in its treatment of history," Li Zhaoxing, Foreign Minister, China (2004)

Unofficially though, the two primary causes of the riots are though to be Tokyo's refusal to ban a controversial school textbook - published by Japan's discredited nationalist minority, and used by a humiliatingly low 0.39 percent of schools - which refuses to accept the full extent of Japan's wartime crimes against China, and an aborted attempt by Tokyo to gain a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council; a move which would have put Japan on an equal footing to China within the governing body.

Vienna Convention (Consular Relations)?

Under international law, China is treaty bound to protect consular facilities and residences on its territory, and is liable for any damage caused to them. A commitment that remains in place regardless of regardless of provocation.

"the receiving State is under a special duty to take all appropriate steps to protect the consular premises against any intrusion or damage and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of the consular post or impairment of its dignity. Clause 2, Article 31, Vienna Convention on Consular Relations

Forgotten Victims?

While many Japanese business were badly damaged by protesters during the 2005 riots, they were not the only enterprises to suffer. Indeed, many Chinese owned stores and restaurants were also ransacked. Some of which were attacked in the mistaken belief that they were Japanese businesses, while others were targeted specifically because they stocked Japanese goods.

Several Chinese businesses, including restaurants in Shanghai's fashionable Huaihai Road, were also targeted for destruction by rioters because they were popular with Japanese businessmen and consular staff. Additionally, signs bearing Japanese character or advertising Japanese goods were targeted in Beijing and Shanghai, regardless of their actual connections to Japan.

Currently, there are no accurate figures available for the total damage caused to Chinese owned business during the riots, and reports of such damage have been strongly suppressed by the state controlled media, making estimates of the costs and the extent of damage difficult. Similarly, reports of injuries to Chinese staff have also been suppressed.

Unlike Japanese victims, most Chinese victims cannot claim full compensation, and are largely unable to have their cases publicly heard.

Suffering in Pictures



For these images and more, please visit this site.

tags: denial  anti japanese riot  shanghai  compensation  japan  picture  report  image  photograph  riot  china  

links: digg this    del.icio.us    technorati    reddit