Last week, when the Chinese government sent five experts to talk with Japanese counterparts about those pesticide-tainted frozen gyoza (Chinese dumplings) imported from their country, the head of the team, Li Chunfeng, expressed concern over the feelings of Japanese consumers. He also offered a veiled caution to people who might take advantage of those feelings.

"I believe the mass media will carry out objective and fair reporting (of the incident)," he said to the press at Narita airport.

Though the tabloids and weeklies have demonstrated a willingness to stimulate the public's latent anti-China sentiments, some government officials have been equally indiscreet regarding the matter.