Thawing frosty Sino-Japanese relations

No ambiguity allowed in bi-lateral ties

The relationship between China and Japan has at best been frosty despite Chinese overtures of friendship towards its neighbor. Both countries have a history, which led to the bad blood between them. Imperial Japan occupied China during the Second World War and wreaked havoc, slaughtering Chinese civilians, raping their women and plundering with impunity. Japanese occupation of China ended with the surrender of Japan to the Allied forces of which the liberation struggle of China was a part of.

Unfortunately, imperial Japan refused to render an apology to the nations; it had once occupied and subjected to its tyranny and oppression. To make matters worse, the current Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made it a point to rub salt in the wounds. In total disregard of international sentiments, he blatantly paid homage to the Yasukuni, which is a Shinto shrine located in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It was founded by Emperor Meiji to commemorate individuals who had died in service of the Empire of Japan during the Meiji Restoration.  Controversies and political tension with China and South Korea arose due to the enshrinement at Yasukuni of many war criminals from World War II, including 14 Class A war criminals who committed heinous crimes to the victimized people.

The Japanese leader’s visit to the Yasukuni Shrine is, in nature, an attempt to whitewash the history of aggression and colonialism by militarist Japan, overturn the just trial of Japanese militarism by the international community and challenge the outcome of WWII and the post-war international order.

Another point of friction is Japan’s annexation of the Diaoyu Island along with the affiliated Nan Xiaodao and Bei Xiaodao through its illegal purchase and subsequent nationalization of the islands, which is unlawful and contrary to historical facts. Recorded legal documents indicate Chinese possession since ancient times. The islands were discovered, laid claim by the Chinese and its territorial waters have been exploited by Chinese fishermen since primeval era. Records of these islands date back to as early as the 15th century. Japan contested China’s ownership but remained inactive till 1968, when United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) identified potential oil and gas reserves might be found under the sea near the islands, prompting Japan to lay stake over the Diaoyu Islands.

Since the advent of 2012, Japan has stirred up the issue and things came to a head on 18 August, when a flotilla of four boats carrying about 150 Japanese activists organized by right-wing group Ganbare Nippon arrived at the islands. The activists stated that they wished to commemorate Japanese World War II deaths in the area. When the activists were denied permission to land, several of them swam to the islands, making an unauthorized landing on Uotsuri, where they raised Japanese flags.

China’s Foreign Ministry protested the event stating that unilateral action by Japan on the islands “is illegal and invalid.” China also lodged a formal complaint, and urged Japan to prevent frictions from escalating further. The flotilla incident at the archipelago also set off anti-Japanese rallies in major Chinese cities demanding that the Japanese leave the islands.

As the world celebrated the 70^th anniversary of the end of World War II in 2015, China observed the occasion befittingly. One of the highlights was a magnificent military parade held in September 2015. Chinese President Xi Jinping also hosted a reception and a gala during the event. All world leaders including the Japanese Prime Minister were invited to witness the military parade, but Shinzo Abe spurned the invitation and lost a golden opportunity to bury the hatchet and atone for its occupation of parts of China before and during the war.

In this backdrop, China’s invitation to the Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida to visit Beijing was a sign of magnanimity. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made a four-point requirement on improving China-Japan ties during talks with his Japanese counterpart. He reiterated that firstly, in politics, the Japanese side should stick fast to the four political documents between the two countries, face up to and reflect upon history and follow the one-China policy to the letter. No ambiguity or vacillation is allowed when it comes to this important political foundation of bilateral ties.

Secondly, Wang Yi spelt out that in terms of its outlook on China, Japan should translate into concrete actions its consensus with China that the two countries are cooperative partners rather than a threat to each other. Japan should take a more positive and healthy attitude to the growth of China and stop spreading or echoing “China threat” or “China economic recession” theories.

Thirdly, in terms of economic exchange, the Japanese side should establish the concept of win-win cooperation, discard the outdated idea that one side cannot do without the other side, or one side depends more on the other side than the other way around.

Instead, Japan should enhance equal-footed and pragmatic cooperation with China based on mutual benefit.

Fourthly, in terms of regional and international affairs, the two sides should respect each other’s legitimate interests and concerns, and communicate and coordinate with each other in a timely fashion, reiterated the Chinese Foreign Minister.

Japan should cast aside the confrontation mentality and work with China to maintain peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

There is still a lack of trust between the two sides although the China-Japan relations have shown signs of improvement, but in the opinion of Wang, the root cause for twists and turns in bilateral ties is Japan’s outlook on history and China.

Kishida’s visit to China is of positive significance but China has bent backwards to accommodate its neighbours including Japan since it believes in the ancient Chinese proverb that “A good neighbor cannot be traded for gold.” The onus now lies on the Japanese side to demonstrate sincerity, square its words with deeds and put the bilateral relations back on the track of sound development with concrete actions.

Next year marks the 45th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic ties; and the year after next, the 40th anniversary of the signing of China-Japan Peace and Friendship Treaty. These are important milestones and opportunities for the improvement of China-Japan relations.

The Japanese Foreign Minister highlighted that China’s development means opportunities for Japan, saying that the Japanese side commends China for its positive role and contributions in many international and regional affairs. As the world’s third- and second-largest economies, Japan and China shoulder more responsibilities for the development and prosperity of Asia and beyond.

The Japanese on their part are keen to reaffirm that China and Japan are partners rather than threats to each other, and according to their Foreign Minister, Japan is willing to follow the four political documents and the four-point principled agreement between the two countries. Kishida reassured that on the basis of reflecting upon history and pursuing peaceful development, Japan stands ready to join the Chinese side in building mutual understanding and trust, expanding exchanges and cooperation across the board.

It is important for Japan to come forward work willingly to work with China in properly managing differences and crises, and broadening the positive dimension of the bilateral relations to build a Japan-China relationship in the new era. Both China and Japan are not only important Asian countries but also have to play their role to join forces to make the world a better place.