Sept. 29 marks the 50th anniversary of the day when Japan and China established a formal diplomatic relationship in 1972.

In the middle of the Cold War, Japan “restored” its ties with the People’s Republic of China and “severed” its relations with the Republic of China in Taiwan.

It was Tokyo’s strategic decision in response to the surprising move of the administration of U.S. President Richard Nixon to soften its stance toward communist China.

During the half century since then, the Cold War came to an end and China has emerged as a leading power, eclipsing the Soviet Union. Now, the confrontation between the United States and China is rocking the world.

China has overtaken Japan as the world’s second largest economy and has acquired huge military power. The relationship between Japan and China has been plagued by constant diplomatic friction over Taiwan, the Senkaku Islands and perceptions about history-related issues.

This occasion offers a good opportunity to think about the future of the bilateral relationship and Japan’s strategy for dealing with its increasingly assertive neighboring giant.

THREATS POSED BY GIGANTIC NEIGHBOR

After Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, visited Taiwan in August, China, infuriated by what it viewed as a provocative action, conducted massive military exercises in wide areas surrounding Taiwan.

Five of the short-range ballistic missiles fired by China’s military during the drills landed in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone. China brushed aside Japan’s protest.

Never before has the national security friction between Japan and China become so tense in the postwar period.

In recent years, Beijing’s expansionist policy has become increasingly more pronounced. The Chinese government has unilaterally and forcefully asserted its territorial and other claims, creating and heightening tensions in various parts of the region.

It has been regularly sending government ships to areas around the disputed Senkaku Islands.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has repeatedly called for “the Great Renaissance of the Chinese race.” His nationalistic rhetoric may reflect the country’s sense of humiliation due to the historical fact that it was invaded by colonial powers.

Even so, the nuclear power’s obsessive and aggressive pursuit of its own positions and interests is extraordinary and extremely dangerous.

When Deng Xiaoping visited Japan in 1978 as China’s paramount leader at that time, he said China would never seek hegemony even if it became a great power, calling this attitude China’s “national policy.” China should return to the spirit of Deng’s policy.

STABILITY THROUGH EXCHANGES

An Asahi Shimbun survey of Japanese about Japan’s relations with China this month underscored the deterioration of the bilateral ties. Only 11 percent of the respondents regarded the relationship between the two countries as being in good shape, against 83 percent who did not think so.

Japanese who have a sense of guilt about Japan’s war with China and those who have firsthand knowledge about the era when the two countries had close and friendly ties following the normalization are all advanced in age. There is no doubt that Japanese people’s expectations and concerns with regard to China have significantly changed over time.

One intriguing finding from the survey is that young Japanese tend to be more eager to see improvement in the bilateral relations.

The percentages of the respondents who said Japan should try to expand its relations with China and of those who said it should keep a distance from the country were roughly the same for all generations. But more young respondents chose the former.

That is probably a natural and realistic attitude among generations who grew up in the era of globalization and know only a powerful China.

The relations between two countries go far beyond the ties between their governments.

Japan and China are linked by an extensive web of commercial, cultural and other ties that bind the two nations together through countless human interactions.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, some 10 million Chinese visited Japan annually and exchanges between citizens of the two countries sharply increased in both breadth and depth. The two nations should expand their multilayered ties based on a solid foundation of economic links.

Former Japanese Ambassador to France Kazuo Ogura, who was the head of the Foreign Ministry’s division in charge of China at the time of the normalization, said it would be a mistake for Japan to “push a policy concerning Japan’s relationship with China based only on the viewpoint of deterrence and defense capabilities.”

Efforts to build a broad network of friendly relations in a wide range of areas contribute greatly to Japan’s national security.

Strong rhetoric about deterrence alone cannot ensure a nation’s security and prosperity. Debate based on a broad perspective is vital for Tokyo’s successful attempts to develop a long-term security strategy that also covers cooperation in areas where the two nations’ interests converge, such as the Earth’s environment, natural disasters and infectious diseases.

In his commencement address at American University in 1963, titled “Strategy of Peace,” then U.S. President John F. Kennedy said, “history teaches us that enmities between nations, as between individuals, do not last forever.” He called for a cool-headed stance toward the Soviet Union.

If Japan allows temporary rivalry and emotions to dictate its policy toward China, it would stifle opportunities to improve the bilateral ties for the future. There are inevitably ups and downs in the relations between the two neighbors.

But thoughtful diplomacy focused on pursuing mutual interests from a long historical perspective is more important than ever.

EFFORTS TO OVERCOME DIFFERENCES

China’s Communist Party government has been stepping up its actions to suppress human rights in areas such as Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Japan has every right to voice strong protests against China’s human rights abuses.

Japan needs to keep pressing Beijing to respect human rights along with other democratic values.

At the same time, however, Japan should not give up efforts to overcome differences and build cooperative relations with China. The 1972 joint communique by Japan and China said, “In spite of the differences in their social systems existing between the two countries, the two countries should, and can, establish relations of peace and friendship.”

While maintaining its close and strong relationship with the United States, Japan, as an Asian nation, should pursue independent diplomacy toward its Asian neighbors.

Japan can contribute to freedom and peace in the Indo-Pacific region only if it develops and exercises a unique ability to coordinate conflicting interests amid a bitter rivalry between the United States and China.

What is worrisome is the shrinking channel of communication between Tokyo and Beijing. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has not held direct talks with Xi since their telephone conversation last autumn. The two leaders should meet for talks as soon as possible.

That there are a raft of sticky issues between the two countries makes it all the more important for the two governments to engage in direct dialogue.

Japan and China need to make all-out efforts to build mutual trust through serious conversations without closing the door to such communications. While facing up to their differences, Tokyo and Beijing should keep working carefully to make steady progress toward improved ties, one step at a time.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Sept. 29