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In the past several years Beijing did ban anti-Japanese boats from sailing to the islands, but brought out its sovereignty claims periodically—often on high profile occasions.
Cao Changqing, a political commentator, said in an article that the regime has signed two important documents with Japan: the 1972 Sino-Japan Joint Statement and the 1978 Sino-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Neither mentioned territorial dispute or the Diaoyu Islands. The regime’s leaders, from Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, to Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, have all given up on the cause.
Protesters Shifting Focus
Analysts say the Chinese regime is very embarrassed by this recent media leak, and fears that continuation of the anti-Japanese protests may turn into anti-government protests.
Former Chinese diplomat and defector Chen Yonglin believes it is possible that such a secret agreement does exist even though Beijing denies it. “The Chinese regime fears the student protests might shift to target it [the regime].”
Chen told The Epoch Times there have been instances where patriotic student parades have ended up affecting the regime.
"They could transform into a democratic movement; the students also have their own independent thoughts,” Chen said. “In mainland China, if the protest is controlled by the Chinese government, it can be allowed to continue. However, when the students no longer follow orders and start to protest out of their own will, and when public opinion can no longer be controlled, the government will start suppression.”
Zhu Yufu, a founding member of the China Democracy Party said in an interview with The Epoch Times that the Chinese regime is scared, and “every little thing puts it in a panic.”
Zhu pointed out that the 1989 Tiananmen Square student movement began with students marching to honor deceased regime leader Hu Yaobang who wanted to fight corruption through political reform.
"The corruption of that time was not on the same level as today's corruption. Now there are more social problems, more unemployed people. They [the Communist Party leaders] do not have the guts to take measures, or courage to make changes. Instead, they desperately try to use the need for social stability as an excuse to override everything else, and to solidify its ruling position. They actually have a doomsday mentality."
