Unstable Peace and Friendship between Japan and China

Japan and China cerebrated the forty-fifth anniversary of Japan-China Peace and Friendship Treaty on Monday October 23rd. Forty-five years ago, Vice-Premier of People’s Republic of China Deng Xiaoping visited Tokyo and exchanged the documents of ratification with Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda Takeo. The bilateral relationship between the two nations has largely been changed. As China took over Japan as an economic giant, frictions between them became frequent not only in economy but in diplomacy and security issues. They need to “develop relations of perpetual peace and friendship” as the treaty upholds.

To the reception held by business sectors, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio sent a message urging both governments to make further effort to build “constructive and stable Japan-China relationship.” Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang evaluated the treaty as an important corner stone that directed Sino-Japan relationship to peaceful co-existence or friendship beyond generations, and emphasized opposition to hegemonism. The memorial event was also held in Beijing.

 

Anti-hegemony is a key word in the treaty. Article 2 of the treaty says that “neither of them should seek hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region or in any other region and that each is opposed to efforts by any other country or group of countries to establish hegemony.” The clause was inserted with the request of China, concerning Soviet Union’s approach to Japan at the time.

 

Now, the concern on hegemonic moves in the Asia-Pacific region is something Japan holds against China. China’s advance to the Pacific Ocean, including to the Senkaku Islands, is a major concern in Japan’s security policy. Japan criticizes China’s pressure on Taiwan, saying that Japan will not allow any unilateral change of status quo by force.

 

China argues that the both governments shared the recognition of postponing the issue over the Diaoyu (Senkaku) Islands at the time they concluded the peace and friendship treaty. Japan has been opposing Beijing’s argument that it has never agreed on postponing the issue or accept maintaining status quo. Japan has been enhancing patrols around the Senkaku Islands, to where increasing number of Chinese ships have been approaching these years.

 

Economic relationship has steeply been declining these months. After Japan decided to discharge the “processed” water from crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant to the sea, China stopped importing all the sea products from Japan. Japan keeps on running the water into the sea, encouraged by the support from the Western countries or South Korea.

 

Diplomatic relationship is unstable with abrupt change of personnel. Following dismissal of Foreign Minister Qing Gang in July, Xi Jinping administration removed Li Shangfu from Defense Minister. Japan replaces the Ambassador to China Tarumi Hideo, who are a member of “China school” in Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Former Premier who had a long relationship with Japan, Li Keqiang, died. Along with international instability brought by the Ukrainian War or attacks between Israel and Palestine, Japan-China relations show no optimistic perspective.

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