January 9, 2017

"Beijing's relationship with Tokyo is often defined as that of 'cold politics, hot economics.' What makes matters 'cold' are political controversies over issues such as Japanese leaders' visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, history textbooks, the sovereignty row over Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands, biological weapons, comfort women and others, which make history the dominant factor in China's present relations with Japan. Concomitantly, the increasing anti-Japanese sentiment in the Chinese public over Japan's wartime aggression further contributes to the fragility in the relationship. 

Given the historical discord, Beijing’s Japan policy strongly stresses on 'taking history as a mirror and looking forward to the future.' Adhering to this sentimental rhetoric, China’s principal policy towards Japan is edged on the condition that Japan should adopt a correct view of its history of the invasion and take tangible actions to win the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community. What explains China’s attitude towards Japan? 

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