To Chinese
I have one special request for you I held up myself since the Quake. Please raise your voices to your government to persuade Myanmar to accept aids from other countries more openly to help cyclone victims because yours has much more influence on them. It would be about time to do so, I wish.

Hideo, Kawasaki, Japan

Chinese government just denied "requesting help from SDF", thus the title here looks inappropriate. As a Chinese, I appreciate foreign aids, but since Sichuan is an important military base, I do not think government will allow any help from SDF or us airforce.

huang, London,

Gary Grant, Tokyo, Japan
Don’t use Jap, stupid. This is insulting word used during WW2 to us. Do you mean it? Japanese of my age, over 50 have more complex feelings about our history than your thin and superficial knowledge. Self–claimed Japan expert like you makes things complicated.

Hideo, Kawasaki, Japan

I think the chinese goverment should be cautious to deal with this event.
It is important to measure the diplomacy effect and the history symbolization. As a chinese, athough there're positive changes between two countries, I think it's a liitle too much to let the military aid in.

Simon, ShangHai, P.R.C

At first sight of the news, I, as a ordinary chinese, really feel pround of China Goverment, being more open, more free, and more confidence.

And I quite appreciate The Times, and other western media(BBC, ABC, etc), for holding impartial attitude toward China.

Ryan, ChangSha, China

I agree, Japan should be seizing the opportunity to help, this is what brings nations and people together regardless of past conflicts, government or religious views. One of the biggest tragedies of the Bush administration was their unwillingness to embrace the world help during 9-11 and Katrina.

Arlin, Calgary, Canada

If the Chinese really want explosives to open up the blockages, all they have to do is give the precise coordinates and TNT tonnage required, then US could fly over their old B52's and do the job in one pass. Or we could put some of those, now redundant, small nukes to some good use.

John Weaver, San Javier, Spain

Thanks for all the help from Japan. History can not be changed. If one could apologize what he has done wrong, we should not doubt his friendliness and sincerity.

China is moving on its own pattern. No state could leap to a well-developed country in a sudden. China is open and free enough now.

Jun Chen, Hangzhou, China

Of all the countries in the world I don't understand why would china choose Japan. The Japanese force is a self defense force, meaning that it is the least powerful of all. Not to mention the Chinese people's feeling about the evil army in ww2.it is not a wise choice.

leo zhou, brighton, uk

In front of natural disaster, humane beings join together.

Sharon , Hell, USA

Brit married to Japanese wife. I know more about Jap history (ie, China) than my wife. Don't think the older (over 50's) will ever acknowledge Japans "China" history. Good luck now, hope this brings about a time of "peace & understanding". China needs help, its grown to fast too quick!

Gary Grant, Tokyo, Japan

China welcomes people from all over the world come to our counrty to see real Chinese society and people's daily life.

Chairman Mao said you can not comment without iinvestigation or study.

Xiaofeng.Wang, Beijing , China P.R.

China welcomes people from all over the world to our country to see real Chinese society and people's daily life.

Chairman Mao said We have no right to comments without investigation or study.

Xiaofeng.Wang, Beijing , China P.R.

So, Albatross, educate us all about Taiwan and Tibet?. Tell us about the ruthless dictatorship? We can read every day about the vague 'human rights abuses' but there is rarely any substance in the allegations. So please feel free to give us all the details. It really is time someone did.

Pu Li, Guangxi, PRC

So many naive people. China should be a world power, with its huge human resources. But it wants to achieve this goal in a hurry at the expense of all human rights, with a ruthless dictatorship. Just look at Tibet and Taiwan.
Peace with Japan? Only if it's convenient. Olympics? A propaganda showcase

Albatross, San Francisco, USA

My predictions for Asia:
near future:
A developed China with Taiwan united.
Peace, friendship and greater cooperation between China & Japan
A better Myanmar and ASEAN solidarity
Developed Mekong region
Distant future:
Korea union
A united Asia
Withdrawal of US troops from Asia.
Peace

Lim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

If these two countries join hands to combat the real enemies of humanity such as poverty and catastrophe, we can expect hope for a better world.

Naomi, Kowloon, Singapore

China has shown the world what a great nation it is. At this stage it is still a developing nation. Imagine what it wld be like when it is developed. China has changed. It is peaceful, it is open.
Taiwan is changing too. I pray that soon Taiwan will be united with the motherland. Peace be with you.

Lim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

If the peoples of Europe can move beyond their historical hostilities, there's no reason to believe China and Japan can't either. Good luck to them.

Nicholas Apleton, Birmingham, England

Japanese has really moved us in the rescue. I hope we can build true friendship with them. The history cannot be changed, but we need to move on. I wanna say thank you to all the kind people in Janpan.

Jie, Chengdu, China

Perhaps Phil you should read up on your history a little, then you would understand it very well. The atrocities were horrendous. But yes the Japanese have a huge chance to build real bridges and should seize it with all their hearts..

John, Bristol, United Kingdom

I hope leaders of all nations have the courage to break the ice with their 'traditional enimies' and act accoring to what I think all of them realise within themself to be right. And I hope the people of those nations respond positively to those leaders rising above petty nationalism.

Joby Joseph, Rockville, USA

This is indeed a surprise. I had envisaged that one day Japan and China wld hold hands in true friendship. It is nearer than I thought. I hope both countries will be sensitive and accommodating and not spoil the tricky path ahead.

It is also my wish that all Asian countries will unite.

Lim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Finally the world is getting somewhere.
Military is one of civilizations’ great achievements. Its use, however, has been horrible.
Now our centuries of perfecting command, communications and deployment can be put to constructive uses.
Humans need a push from nature once in a while. Thanks China!

Dennis, Calgary - Canada, Canada

Instead of leaking the news in a patronizing tone, the Japanese should really seize the opportunity and run (not "evaluate") with it. I bet the Japanese government feels pretty good about its army's history.

Andy Dorfman, Florida, US

Great news. As a Chinese Jamaican that has been raised in the States, I never fully understood the deep resentment that the Chinese held for the Japanese. I hope that this action will help bridge the two countries together. China and Japan both need to stop fostering hate and instead embrace unity

Phil Fung, Miami, USA