Keywords: Japan frequent visits Southeast Asian nations; netizens call for lower prices for standing-room-only train tickets

Japan frequent visits Southeast Asian nations

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe started his first overseas visit after taking office to Southeast Asian nations including Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia on January 16.

Earlier January, Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso visited Myanmar and Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida visited the Philippines, Singapore and Brunei, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Chinese media suggested Japan could not win international support by making frequent visits abroad.

The Global Times commented it would be a joke in international strategy circles if Japan sought to encircle China.

"Abe's visit to Southeast Asia will not bring China a sense of crisis. Japan's negotiations with claimants in South China Sea disputes will have no effect. It will be no better than a kind of self-comfort," the paper said.

"Toward Japan, China should not only be cautious, but learn not to overreact," the paper concluded.

Professor Feng Wei with Fudan University said in a Phoenix TV interview that Abe intends to win international support by spreading the so-called "China threat theory."

"Abe's diplomacy puts forward the conception of containing China rather than besieging China," Feng analyzed.

Most ASEAN countries are reluctant to choose sides between China and Japan, not to mention confronting China alongside Japan, according to the People's Daily (overseas edition).

Abe should be cautious to not be the one that makes Japan disturb both East Asia and international financial markets, the paper suggested.

Netizens call for lower prices for standing-room-only train tickets

A Weibo post calling for lower prices for standing-room-only train tickets has caught attention online as the annual Spring Festival travel rush approaches.

The post, published on January 12, calls for standing-room-only ticket prices to be halved. The price should not be the same as seat tickets because the service provided is different, the post explained.

The post won widespread support online recently and has been forwarded over 160 thousand times as of January 16.

Chinese media said the call for the discount shows a demand for openness and fairness and suggested promoting multi-step pricing for train tickets.

Proposals to lower the price of standing-room-only train tickets reflect the public's awareness of its rights, according to voc.com.cn, the website of Hunan Daily Press Group.

"Nowadays, more people have become accustomed to asking why common phenomena occur. This shows progress in our society and will promote more progress," it said.

The Qingdao Daily commented that train ticket prices are related to social justice and passengers' rights.

"Adjusting the price of standing-room-only train tickets should be put on the agenda of the relevant departments. As for the discount rate and the sale of tickets, it is only a technical issue and easy to solve," the paper added.

The Xinhua News Telegraph recommended promoting multi-step pricing for train tickets on a trial basis in certain regions at certain time periods.

"Standing-room-only ticket prices that comply with market rules will benefit migrant workers during the Spring Festival travel rush," the paper said.

Monopolies are the key obstacle to lowering the prices of standing-room-only tickets, according to the Xi'an Daily.

"The Railway Ministry should respect passengers' rights and actively listen to their opinions about ticket fares. Only by doing this can ticket prices match railway services," the paper commented.

@清玩子: Actually, I do not approve of the existence of standing-room-only tickets. The train should maintain its environment and comfort by not selling standing-room-only tickets, which also protects the rights of passengers with seat tickets. The government should invest in more trains and improve the transportation capacity.

@人众人山西: Arguing is no use. The best way is to make a trial for a period of time. As the saying goes, real knowledge comes from practice.

@聂耳的聂冼星海的星: The standing-room-only tickets should be discounted. Passengers deserve equal treatment if they pay the same price.