The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Tokyo

A majority of Japanese believe their country should take a tougher stance on China, according to a new poll Monday ahead of Chinese President Hu Jintao's landmark visit.

Asked whether Japan needs to change its diplomatic and other positions on China, 51 percent of people said it should be stricter, the Mainichi Shimbun daily said about the survey.

The ratio was twice as large as the 26 percent who wanted Japan to be "more friendly" towards China, according to the May 1-2 telephone poll of 1,042 adults nationwide. Hu heads to Tokyo on Tuesday-the first Japan visit by a Chinese president in a decade and only the second ever. Hu said Sunday his trip would have the atmosphere of a "warm spring." Japan is his first foreign destination since major protests broke out in March against China's rule in Tibet. China's ensuing