Historical Vision and Strategic Thinking Required to Understand Tortuous Sino-Japanese Relations

Sino-Japanese relations have entered a difficult period. Recently, relations have been very tense because of the Diaoyu Islands dispute and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo These two events were not accidemal. relations in recent years. Abe＇s visit to the Yasukuni Shrine. They highlight the downhill trend of     

The Inability of Japan to Adapt to China＇ s Rise and China＇ s Strategic Response

since China first surpassed Japan in 2010 to become the world＇s second largest economy, the continuing friction and tensions between China and Japan has intensified around issues such as the Diaoyu Islands and the East China Sea air defense identification zone. At the end of 2013, with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe＇s visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, the Sino-Japanese relationship was brought to the lowest point in nearly 30 years. What are the deep-seated reasons for this？ What are Japan＇s strategic intentions？ These questions are worthy of further exploration.     

U.S.-China-Japan Relations and China＇ s Strategic Choices

japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe＇s visit to the Yasukuni Shrine has escalated tensions between China and Japan that were triggered by the Diaoyu Islands dispute. Changes in the balance of power between China and Japan have caused concerns and strategic restlessness in Japan. Because of public opinion and his party＇s control of the House of Representatives and Senate, Abe is now eager to further his aims both domestically and overseas. That is why he said： ＂Now is the time for Japan to take the big step in building a new state.＂ The U.S. supports a stronger Japan because it is looking to maintain the strategic balance in the Asia-Pacific region. Its Asia-Pacific Rebalancing strategy is bound to inflame Japan＇s ambitions. In fact, Japan has been actively pursuing stronger ties with the U.S. and became more aggressive over the Diaoyu Islands issue.     

How Can Sino-Japan Ties Be Improved？

There have been tensions between China and Japan since September 2012. These have spiraled so that now the relationship is one of the most dangerous and uncertain in the Asia-Pacific region. This enduring conflict between the world＇s second and third largest economies will negatively impact the regional and the global economies. In the first half of 2014, Japanese investment into China fell 47% while bilateral trade slipped 5% on a year earlier. Between 2001 and 2006, Junichiro Koizumi, then Japanese Prime Minister, kept up visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, throwing the China-Japan relationship into an unprecedented political crisis. Ties were characterized by being cold politically, but hot economically.     

Strategic Risks and Japanese Right Wing Must Not Be Underestimated

the majority of the people from the Asia Pacific, especially those from China, South Korea and North Korea that were badly hurt by Japanese militarism, have been filled with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited righteous indignation when Japanese the Yasukuni Shrine on December 26, 2013 and with the resurgence of the Japanese Right Wing. However, many of these people do not take these developments seriously. They see Abe as someone with few supporters and Japan＇s Right Wing as having little power. Further, Japan＇s military might is now much weaker than the ＂militarist era＂ before the Second World War. Thus, they do not think that Abe and the Right Wing can do much harm today. They underestimate the risk that their actions pose to Asia-Pacific peace. They are not correct and this thinking can also be dangerous. They lack a deeper understanding of Japan＇s special political and social structure, their historical, cultural and strategic traditions, as well as their unique national disposition--such as lower levels effecting a fait accompli, daring to take risks, a tendency to attack and cruel belligerence.     

Huge Task to Improve Japanese Public＇ s Dim View of China

after Shinzo Abe became Japanese prime minister again, the nation -adopted a much tougher China policy. While Abe has continued hispredecessor＇s aim of trying to contain China, he has also injected confrontation into ties. Particularly when Sino-Japanese relations are at a deadlock because of territorial disputes, and despite opposition from various parties, Abe has visited the Yasukuni Shrine. Although this provocative act is the consequence of many factors, both domestic and foreign, one that cannot be ignored is the Japanese public＇s hostile view of China     

Why Is the Abe Government so Anxious to Improve Relations with China？-Why Is Shinzo Abe so Eager to Improve Relations with China？

Editor＇s Note： Sino-Japanese relations have been tense in recent years. In Jparticular, since Abe came to power, Japan has not only been ＂desperately struggling＂ with China on territorial and historical issues, but has also tried to set up an ＂encircling network＂ against China. Thus Sino-Japanese relations have emerged as the most risky bilateral relations in the Asia-Pacific region. As the two largest powers in East Asia, and the world＇s second and third largest economies, the continuing confrontation between China and Japan will have huge negative repercussions on regional and global peace. With the approaching of the APEC meeting, however, the Abe government has repeatedly expressed its hopes for diplomatic dialogue with China. The Abe government＇s shift in attitude towards China from ＂hard＂ to a new ＂moderate＂ position has attracted wide international attention. We cannot help but ask：     

The ＂War of Nerves＂ between China and Japan will Be Another Protracted War

Over the past two years since his remm to power, Abe has been implementing a hard-line foreign strategy, and openly ＂challenging＂ and ＂desperately struggling with＂ China. Specifically, the Abe government has been forcefully pursuing a strategy of ＂active pacifism＂, such as ＂revising the constitution＂, lifting the ban on collective defense and modifying the ＂three principles＂ on arms export, implementing a so-called ＂overlooking the globe＂ diplomacy that takes a cold line on neighboring countries such as China and South Korea, and seeking to make joint efforts with Australia, India, the Philippines, Vietnam and USA in order to set up a sea encirclement against China. As Prime Minister, Abe not only paid an open visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, but also repeatedly denied the history of Japanese invasion in China, as well as its aggressive consequences and associated guilt.     

The Inherent Logic behind Rising China-Japan Tensions

Regardless of the basic principles governing bilateral relations over -the past four decades and the possible damage to the interests of the people of the two countries, the Japanese government has deliberately touched China＇s raw nerve frequently over delicate issues in disputes over the past couple of years. In 2010, the Naha prefectural court attempted to put on trial a Chinese boat captain detained for fishing near the disputed Diaoyu Islands. In 2012, under the pretext of preventing Tokyo Governor Ishihara Shintaro from ＂purchasing＂ these islands, the Yoshihiko Noda cabinet attempted to ＂nationalize＂ them. In 2013, flying in the face of world opinion, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe insisted on paying a visit to the notorious Yasukuni Shrine, where the ashes of Class A war criminals are enshrined, and hinted at similar action in the future. Are these all the action of individual political leaders？ If not, what is Tokyo up to？ What of bilateral relations？     

The ＂Abe/Aso Regime＂ and Sino-Japanese Relations

Following the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party＇s victory in the December 2012 election, some Japanese analysts pointed out that the new Abe/Aso Govemment would introduce rightist policies, and that as such it would be more difficult for China and Japan to improve their bilateral relations. As expected, in the past six months since its coming to power, the Abe cabinet has vigorously promoted so-called ＂Abe economics＂ and implemented a quantitative easing monetary policy that has caused a drastic depreciation of the Japanese Yen. In order to revise the ＂Constitution of Japan＂, in July 2013 it has been striving to win the election of the Senate. Externally, the new cabinet members have frequently visited foreign countries, implementing a diplomatic strategy of containing and countering China. One of its aims is to completely rid itself of the shackles of World War II and to try to reconstruct powerful military forces. The Diaoyu Islands issue has been used by the Abe cabinet to serve its domestic and foreign policy objectives,     

Sino-Japanese Relations and ADIZ

Sino-Japanese relations have recently deteriorated as Japan＇s Abe government has made public visits to the Yasukuni Shrine. The situation also provides an opportunity for us to better understand Uae strategic significance of the establishment of ＂the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone＂（＂ADIZ＂）.     

China-Europe Cooperation for the Development of Africa：Concepts and Policies

In recent years, the growth of China＇s economy and the elevation of China-Africa relations have caused complex changes in China＇s relations with the outside world. The rapid development of China-Africa relations is a showcase for the development process of Asia and Africa, through which we can see that both Asia and Africa are revitalizing and a new world is taking shape     

俄日关系的进展与限度

In his first phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 29,2020,Japan’s new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga expressed his willingness to“develop the overall relationship between Japan and Russia”and“stressed the need to put an end to the Northern Territories issue without leaving it to the next generation.”In response,Putin said that he intended to continue discussing all bilateral issues.1 The two sides also reaffirmed that they would“continue efforts to comprehensively advance Russia-Japan relations for the peoples of the two countries and the entire Asia-Pacific region.”2 Looking ahead to Russia-Japan relations after Suga came to power,it is still necessary to review the relations during the administration of his predecessor Shinzo Abe,who has made positive attempts,so as to better understand the features,cruxes and the future direction of Russia-Japan relations.     

Facing up to Different Perceptions of History

the controversy in Japan over the right or wrong of Abe＇s Shrine visit, as well as the appreciation of and perplexity over the righteous anger in China, the ROK, and the international community against the event, reveal the perceptions of history and diplomatic considerations behind it. Back in August 2006, a Yomiuri survey of popular attitudes towards the similar actions of the then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi （2001-2006）,     

An Analysis of China's Power Status and International Standing

Many Chinese scholars have described China as the world＇s second biggest power after the U.S.. This is based on two facts. First, China overtook Japan in total economic output measured by GDP in 2010 to become the world＇s second biggest economy. Some scholars argue that China still lags behind the U.S. in comprehensive national power and in this sense it is also ranked second） The other is that Sino-U.S. relations are frequently described as the rise and fall of big powers, especially when referring to the Asia-Pacific region. It is the latest example of how relations between a rising power and one struggling to maintain its status have been so complex in the long history of international relations. While many people talk about the possibility that China will overtake the U.S. in the future, others talk about a G2.2 If we look closely at global trends and changes to China＇ s international environment, if we examine what exactly we mean by power status, we will have a much deeper understanding of China＇ s current power status from which we can build a solid foundation for this country＇ s foreign strategy and diplomacy.     

China＇s Think Tanks in Global Transition

With China now the world＇s second-largest economy,the status and role of China＇s think tanks have become an increasing concem.On the whole,the international status of China＇ s think tanks is not commensurate with the country＇ s current international status.The University of Pennsylvania＇ s The Global Go To Think Tanks Report published in 2014 said that as of August 2013,China had 426 think tanks,second only to the U.S.with 1,828.But of the top 100 non-U.S.think tanks in the world only 5 are Chinese,and in the 150 most influential global think tanks,only 6 are from China—with the rest mostly from Europe.China＇ s think tanks lack professionalism and influence.1 This is why China has been pushing to improve its think tanks internationally.In April 2013,President Xi Jinping proposed building a ＂new think tank with Chinese characteristics＂.     

On the Changes in the International Order

Adebate on the controversial issue of the international order has been the vogue in current times.To China,high on the agenda is the defense of the post-war international order,as the Abe administration denies Tokyo＇s past aggression by paying homage to the Yasukuni shrines （where ashes of 14 Class-A war criminals are honored）,and appears to be reinterpreting its pacifist constitution in a bid to lift the ban on collective defense.Highlighting their resolve to uphold the achievements of the Second World War,state leaders of both China and Russia have reached agreement on a joint commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the victory of the global anti-Fascist war.     

China-U.S. Economic and Trade Relations： A Win-Win Partnership

Over the past three decades, China-U.S. economic and trade relations have been growing rapidly along with vigorous economic development of China in the course of its reform and opening-up. Economic exchanges and trade between the two countries virtually started from scratch, but now China and the United States have become two of the world＇s largest economies and trading partners. The two economies are more interdependent than ever before, each being the other＇s major partner： China is America＇s second largest trading partner, third largest export market, second largest source of import and largest holder of its treasury bonds; the United States is China＇s largest trading partner, largest export market and third largest outlet for foreign direct investment （FDI）.     

Sino-US Energy Relations and the Third Party Factor

The United States is the most developed country in the world and the number one energy-importing country. China is the largest developing country and the number two energy-importing country. The energy issue is thus a key issue in Sino-US Relations. The United States has been on bad terms with some energy-rich ＂problem countries＂, while the energy cooperation between China and these countries is starting to go well. Sino-US relations now affect the whole world, and China＇s and the United States＇ relations with these key energy producers--the ＇third party factor＇ may become a major source of competition and conflict between the two powers.     

China＇s Diplomacy： New Trends and New Characteristics

In the 60 years since the founding of the People＇s Republic of China, the country has pursued a peace-oriented foreign policy. After the end of the Beijing Olympics in October 2008, China＇s foreign relations began to take on a new look. The country now participates more actively in global and regional issues, forging multilateral and bilateral relationships, and entering into discussions on maritime rights and military strategy. It could be said that China is now showing more initiative, independence, confidence, transparency and a greater sense of responsibility, and strengthening cooperation with all partners. These changes are mainly due to China＇s increasing comprehensive national strength and its need to integrate into the international system in a peaceful and harmonious manner with benefits to all. China has redefined its identity and reassessed its interests. These changes are ongoing, and the nation＇s diplomacy is still not perfect, but the general direction has now been set.