Niwa condemns ‘purchase’ of Diaoyu Islands, again   

日前驻华大使称安倍修宪并非易事 将遇重重阻力

刚刚卸任回国的前驻华大使丹羽宇一郎12月20日在东京日本记者俱乐部发表演讲，批评日政府钓鱼岛“国有化”做法欠妥，导致了中日关系陷入低谷。这是丹羽宇一郎自今年6月接受媒体采访时批评日本“购岛”政策以来的又一次敢言。

Tokyo (CNS) -- Former Japanese Ambassador to China Uichiro Niwa on Thursday reiterated his criticism of Japan's "illegal purchase" of the Diaoyu Islands.

The "purchase" is improper and has led the Sino-Japan relationship to a new low, Niwa said during a speech in Tokyo. If democracy is to protect a country's interests, he said, the Japanese government's deeds cannot make its citizens happy.

Remarks about the islands by all parties during the election campaign were over-sharp, which might upgrade the dispute, he said, adding that the most important thing is to avoid reaching the "tipping point" of military force.

Territorial disputes are a complex problem and cannot be settled in a short time, but we should not let it ruin the relationship between the two countries, he said.

I have confidence in the future of the Sino-Japan relationship, he added.

Niwa said he hoped that incoming Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would think about what Japan's foreign policy means for its citizens living abroad.

Appointed in 2010, Niwa was the first Japanese ambassador to China from the private sector. He was replaced by Masato Kitera, a former assistant chief cabinet secretary.