Abe-Xi summit forges first step to stable relations with China
Cooperation between the world’s second- and third-largest economic powers after the United States can bring about prosperity and stability to international affairs. Both Japan and China must build a long-term, stable relationship by promoting confidence building between their leaders.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made an official visit to China, the first by a Japanese prime minister in seven years, and held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, among others.
Abe stressed he hopes “to propel the Japan-China relationship into a new era, from competition to cooperation.” Xi also positively regarded the ties, saying, “China-Japan ties are back on track.”
It is significant that the two countries confirmed at the summit level the improvement of their ties, which had once been described as at the worst due to issues including conflicts over Japan’s nationalization of the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture in 2012.
The two leaders agreed to promote economic cooperation among Japanese and Chinese companies in third countries. The move is aimed at creating a new model for Japan-China cooperation through infrastructure development and other projects.
Japan intends to cooperate on the condition that such projects meet international standards in terms of their transparency and fiscal soundness, among other criteria. This appears to be a response to cases in which recipient countries have changed their initial development plans that China finances under its huge economic zone Belt and Road Initiative because these Chinese loans tend to result in excessive debt for them.
The hope is that Japan’s abundant experience in assisting developing countries will be utilized to make projects conducive to regional development such as in Southeast Asia and Africa.
Forty years have passed since the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and China entered into force in 1978. Then Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, who visited Japan to ratify the treaty, asked Japanese companies for support. Shortly after returning to China, he worked out a reform and opening-up policy intended for a market economy, achieving rapid economic growth for China.
Over the past 40 years, Japan provided a total of more than 3.65 trillion yen in official development assistance to China, helping the country construct railways, ports and other infrastructure.
In 2001, China joined the World Trade Organization, and in 2010, it surpassed Japan in terms of gross domestic product. One can say the era in which Japan helps China unilaterally and touts “friendship” has been well over.
Abe announced the decision to terminate Japan’s ODA to China, saying that “its historical mission has ended.” Taking into consideration radical changes in Japan-China relations and the international environment, it is natural for the two countries to explore ways of achieving mutual existence and prosperity.
Behind China’s change of its hard-line stance toward Japan to moves seeking the improvement of bilateral relations is the worsening of China’s economic situation brought on by the trade friction with the United States. The U.S.-China confrontation has extended across security and other areas and looks to be prolonged. Beijing’s overture to Tokyo is undoubtedly intended as a check on Washington.
One factor behind the U.S.-China confrontation is that China, amid the context of its economic clout, has emerged as a country threatening the stability of international order by pushing ahead with its military buildup and strong-arm diplomacy. China is suspected of trying to spread Chinese-style rules that are different from the norms of Europe and the United States, which are based on democracy and the rule of law.
The Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and China includes a provision stipulating that the two countries are “opposed to efforts by any other country or group of countries to establish such hegemony.” The provision had the former Soviet Union in mind, but it cannot be avoided even if China is now regarded as a hegemonic power.
Japan and other countries had expectations that democratization would make progress in China if the country became prosperous. These expectations have regrettably been betrayed.
The Xi administration should recognize that its policy of putting China on the path to being a “strong nation” has increased other countries’ wariness of Beijing, leading to the heightening of the perception that China is a threat.
Unless China takes steps to halt moves to establish military footholds in the South China Sea and correct its unfair trade practices and infringement of intellectual property rights, it will not be regarded as a responsible great power.
Japan is called on to frankly point out to Beijing problems about China and repeatedly urge the country to observe international rules.
There is a risk that Chinese government vessels’ routine intrusions into Japanese territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands will evolve into a security crisis. Even at the summit this time, Abe and Xi failed to pave the way toward resolving confrontations over the Senkakus.
Concerning an air and maritime liaison mechanism to avoid accidental collisions between the Chinese military and the Self-Defense Forces, leaders of the two nations did not go beyond confirming a policy to aim at establishing a hotline at an early date, leaving much to be desired.
It is essential for Japan to counter China’s unilateral maritime advances by promoting the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy” jointly with such partners as the United States and Australia.
A worrying matter is that the gap in favorable impressions of each other’s country has been expanding between the Japanese and Chinese.
According to the results of a public opinion survey, Chinese people’s sentiment toward Japan has improved significantly against such background factors as an increase in the number of Chinese visitors to Japan, while nearly 90 percent of Japanese respondents answered they still have an unfavorable impression of China.