Chinese president faces criticism over Tibet in Japan

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Inside Waseda University, President Hu Jintao urged Beijing and Tokyo to put their bitter wartime history behind them underlining efforts at bolstering ties between Asia's two giants.

The president's comments on the wartime past were crucial, as Beijing has often accused Tokyo of failing to properly atone for its military conquests on the Asian mainland in the 1930s and 40s.

In a 30-minute address at Waseda, Hu mentioned Japan's "militaristic invasion of China," but that it should not be dwelled upon.

"This unfortunate history not only caused tremendous suffering to the Chinese people but also gravely hurt the Japanese people," he said. "It's important for us to remember history, but this does not mean we should hold grudges."

But as Hu spoke, protests thundered outside. Hundreds of riot police circled the venue, keeping chanting pro-Tibet demonstrators about 100 yards away. Minor scuffles broke out, and several protesters were seen being led away by officers.

Aiming to minimize clashes, authorities divided a smaller pocket of pro-China protesters waving Chinese flags from two larger crowds of demonstrators bearing Tibetan flags and shouting anti-Chinese slogans.

While the trip was aimed at increasing warm feelings between Japan and China, Hu has been dogged by reminders of the international criticism of Beijing's handling of March's unrest in Tibet.

Before his speech at Waseda, a right-leaning alumni group demanded that it be canceled, calling him "the chief executive of oppression over the right to ethnic self-determination and human rights of the Tibetans" in a statement signed by several dozen alumni.

A breakfast meeting with former Japanese prime ministers also was not entirely tension free. Missing from the attendance list was Junichiro Koizumi, who strained ties repeatedly with Beijing by visiting Yasukuni Shrine, which many see as a symbol of Japan's militarist past, during his 2001-2006 tenure in office.

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