Regarding the Dec. 24 article "New envoy to China urges economic thaw": In my opinion, it will be difficult to conclude which country the Senkakus belong to. So, as Masato Kitera, the next ambassador to China is about to do, we should try to avoid the dispute in order to construct stronger economic ties with China. Economic ties will never fail to deliver bilateral benefits.
Originally it was Japan that was to blame for triggering protests in China that have strained the relationship between the two countries. But we can't admit our failure because it might mean compromising the sovereignty of the islands.
Still, we don't have to stick to the territorial matter. It will be enough to mend the bilateral relationship. From that point of view, the incoming ambassador deserves our support for emphasizing the need for an economic thaw.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.