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China uses Internet to oppose Japan's UN bid
By Sumner Lemon

Chinese Internet users have turned to the Web to voice their displeasure over Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations (UN) Security Council, with millions of users signing their names to online petitions in recent days.

The UN Security Council currently has five permanent members who can exercise the power to veto any resolution by the council. The five permanent members are: the U.S., China, France, the U.K., and Russia. Japan is hoping to secure a permanent seat to reflect its position as one of the world's largest economies.

At 3:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday, 6.1 million people had signed their name to a Sina Corp. petition opposing Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Online petitions by rival portal operators Netease.com Inc. and Sohu.com Inc. had garnered 4.4 million and 2.3 million signatures, respectively. To sign these petitions, users must submit their name and place of residence.

Sina has been collecting signatures of those opposed to Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council since March 23, according to the company. The collected signatures will be presented to the UN and the Japanese and Chinese governments, it said.

Political discussions on the Internet are closely monitored in China. These controls -- which can involve screening posts or deleting those postings that are deemed undesirable -- are usually stepped up around sensitive events and anniversaries.

For example, Internet surveillance of chat rooms and discussion forums was stepped up during the annual National People's Congress meeting in Beijing earlier this month. Chinese officials have also recently shut down Internet bulletin boards at some universities. However, the Chinese government is less quick to stifle political discourse that reflects its own positions or expressions of nationalism.

Chinese opposition to Japanese efforts to secure a permanent seat on the UN Security Council largely stems from continued anger over Japan's brutal invasion and occupation of China during the 1930s and 1940s. Many Chinese feel that Japan has not fully accepted responsibility for atrocities committed by its soldiers during that period, including the 1937-1938 massacre in Nanjing.

In addition, official Chinese press reports have recently expressed disapproval with a recent joint declaration by Japan and the U.S. that defines Taiwan as a mutual security concern. China and Taiwan were separated in 1949 at the end of a civil war. China today regards Taiwan as a renegade province and has repeatedly threatened to attack the island if the Taiwanese government formally declares independence.

Posted March 30, 2005 04:38 PM |