Can China-Japan Relations Be Saved?

Rising Strains in East Asia

About two weeks ago, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae suggested during a parliamentary session that a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan might be equivalent to an attack on Japan. This statement quickly stirred strong reactions from Beijing, which condemned Tokyo for what it called interference in China’s internal affairs.

The comment deepened already tense relations between two of Asia’s leading powers, whose diplomatic ties have been strained by historical grievances and contemporary geopolitical competition.

Mutual Suspicion and Strategic Anxiety

For years, China has viewed Japan’s growing security cooperation with the United States and other regional partners as a threat to its national interests. Conversely, Japan expresses concern about China’s expanding military activities in the East China Sea, particularly around the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands.

Tokyo has been boosting defense spending and strengthening its alliance with Washington, emphasizing deterrence capabilities and intelligence sharing. Meanwhile, Beijing accuses Japan of following a “Cold War mindset” and militarizing the region.

Public Attitudes and Political Rhetoric

Public opinion on both sides reflects deep mistrust. Surveys repeatedly show that citizens of both countries hold negative views of each other, rooted in wartime memories and territorial disputes. Attempts at soft diplomacy and cultural exchange have failed to reverse these trends.

Japanese political leaders face domestic pressure to respond more assertively to China’s military presence, while Chinese officials use nationalist narratives to affirm the country’s sovereignty claims.

Limited Diplomatic Openings

Despite these tensions, both governments maintain limited communication channels. Occasional high-level meetings take place during multilateral summits, but concrete progress remains elusive. Economic ties, once a stabilizing factor, now carry political weight as each side diversifies trade and technological dependencies.

Experts suggest that rebuilding trust will require pragmatic engagement, crisis-management mechanisms, and efforts to separate economic cooperation from security disputes.

“China and Japan are destined to coexist in Asia,” notes one regional analyst. “The question is whether they can learn to compete without sliding into conflict.”

Author’s Summary:
The article examines deepening mistrust and strategic rivalry between China and Japan, highlighting how political rhetoric, security concerns, and public anxiety have eroded diplomatic ties despite shared regional interests.

more

The Diplomat – Asia-Pacific Current Affairs Magazine The Diplomat – Asia-Pacific Current Affairs Magazine — 2025-11-25

More News