IF AN ALIEN from Mars were to read only Chinese newspapers during a visit to planet Earth, he could be forgiven for believing that Japan was this planet’s evil empire and Junichiro Koizumi its most evil man. Beijing has repeatedly blamed Koizumi for damaging relations between the two Asian powers and, even though Koizumi is stepping down as prime minister in September, the Chinese press hasn’t let up a bit in its verbal assault against him.
Among the “sins” Koizumi has committed, first among them is his annual visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, a pilgrimage which the Chinese press derisively describes as “worshipping ghosts.” It’s hardly surprising that Chinese news stories and commentary on this issue are so biased and inaccurate–they are the centerpiece of Beijing’s propaganda campaign against the pro-American prime minister.
