The Current State of China-Japan Relations
Image: Cheong Wa Dae, The Diplomat
During his annual press conference on March 8, 2016, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that future developments of Sino-Japanese relations “still do not allow for optimism.” Particularly, he cites Japan’s “insensitive” approach to historical issues as one of the main reasons for the frosty relations between Beijing and Tokyo. While historical tensions undoubtedly provide an important context to the current situation, Sino-Japanese relations during the past few years have been shaped by China’s rapid rise that has altered Asian geopolitics and economy, and Japanese responses to such developments. As a major Chinese newspaper quoted Foreign Minister Wang, ““the crux of China-Japan relations is whether Japan can sincerely accept and welcome China’s revival and rise.”
After Japan’s decision to nationalize some of the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in 2012, relations between China and Japan took a turn for the worse, and since then the two nations have not managed to recover their relationship. Disputes over islands in the East Asia Sea were further exacerbated by Japanese Prime Minister Abe’s visits to the Yasukuni Shrine that commemorates fourteen Class-A Japanese war criminals. Moreover, Japan, threatened by China’s rise and military provocations, has been pushing for a greater build up of its self-defense forces. This has led to accusations from Beijing that Japan is reversing back to its World War II militaristic tendencies.
Nevertheless, there could still be sources of optimism for relations between China and Japan to improve; economic relations between the two nations could potentially force them to cooperate for the sake of pragmatism. China is Japan’s largest trading partner, and Japan is China’s second largest trading partner. Negotiations for the trilateral free trade agreement (FTA) between China, Japan, and South Korea have also gone underway. If the talks are successful, this FTA would combine the three largest economies in East Asia. However, economic ties may not be a strong enough binding force given the other developments that seem to pull China and Japan further apart.
The United States, as one of the most powerful and important allies of Japan since the postwar period, has been hesitant (and rightfully so) to play an overtly active role in Sino-Japanese relations. As Kurt Campbell, the former assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs stated in 2012, the U.S. is “engaged in delicate diplomacy” when it comes to China-Japan relations. The U.S. should continue to urge Japan to confront its historical wrongdoings and encourage both nations to find pragmatic solutions, as stability and cooperation in East Asia is of utmost importance.
http://thediplomat.com/2016/03/chinas-foreign-minister-no-cause-for-optimism-in-china-japan-relations/
http://blogs.cfr.org/asia/2015/06/30/disdain-in-beijing-and-edginess-in-tokyo/
http://thediplomat.com/2016/02/avoiding-landmines-trajectory-of-the-japan-china-relationship-in-2016/
http://thediplomat.com/2016/02/how-the-us-approached-the-2012-senkakudiaoyu-tensions/
