Sharing history8217;s burden

8220;But to achieve that objective it is important to understand history in the right way.8221; During yesterday8217;s summit with Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, Jiang got only a verbal version of a three-year-old general Japanese apology to Asia, slightly tailored to China.

The two sides also issued a written joint statement, but one which neither leader signed, in which Japan cited its 8220;deep remorse8221; over the past but did not offer a clear apology.

Japan8217;s war-time aggression in China remains a thorn in ties, and even though the two countries formally resumed diplomatic ties in 1972, Jiang8217;s six-day state visit is the first by aChinese president.

China says 20 million people died during and after the 1937-45 war with Japan.

On Taiwan, China demanded Japan8217;s support for its 8220;three nos8221; 8212; no Taiwan independence, no two Chinas China and Taiwan and no Taiwan joining international organisations as a sovereign state. Instead, Beijing got one no8217;, a restatement of Japan8217;s promise not to support independence on the island, which China regards as a renegade province.