No apologies for Chinese grievances

With large-scale and widespread anti-Japan protests going into the third week in Chinese cities, most of the Japanese and western press have chosen to focus on the negative aspects: angry mass gatherings, rock throwing, flag burning, window smashing and the potential for escalation.

An important meeting between Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura and his Beijing counterpart, Li Zhaoxing , over the weekend generated hundreds of headlines. Yet, it all boils down to the fact that China refuses to apologise for the damage caused by the demonstrations.

These reports have exaggerated the reality. Consider this: more than 30 million people have reportedly signed an online petition against Tokyo's bid to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council; yet only a few thousand have moved from cyberspace to city streets, and among them, only a small number have displayed unacceptable behaviour that should be condemned.

But let us not overlook the central question: what are the forces that have mobilised so many people in China, South Korea and around the world in this unprecedented grass-roots movement against Japan on a number of issues? These range from the whitewashing of past war responsibilities in Japanese textbooks to Japan's aspirations as a major player in world affairs. Confusion and misconception characterise most answers.