Nations seek right timing to reach compromise

Japan and China on ursday marked the 50th anniversary of their normalization of bilateral diplomatic relations even as tensions between the two countries remain high. As the two will always be neighbors, Tokyo and Beijing both recognize the need to improve relations, yet there are no concrete prospects for that.

e key will be whether Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese President Xi Jinping can nd the right timing for a political compromise.

More than 800 people attended an event to celebrate the milestone in Japan-China relations at a hotel in Tokyo on ursday, applauding at the reading of congratulatory messages sent by the two leaders.

Kishida’s message said, “Both Japan and China share a great responsibility for regional and global peace and prosperity.”

Xi’s message said, “Over the past 50 years, we have continuously deepened exchanges and cooperation and promoted regional and global peace and development.”

However, Kishida, who had been invited to the event, was not present.

In an e ort to build momentum for improving bilateral ties, Kishida had le his attendance at the event open until the last minute, waiting to see how Beijing would respond. For him, the nonnegotiable condition was that either Xi or Chinese Premier Li Keqiang would attend a corresponding Beijing event hosted by the Chinese side.

From intrusions into Japan’s territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands in Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, to its unilateral development of gas

elds in the East China Sea, there is no sign that Beijing intends to ease its hegemonic moves.

A Japanese government o cial explained that under such circumstances, if Kishida alone were to attend an event, “Beijing would see that Tokyo is willing to move forward to improve relations and take unfair advantage of that.”

On Wednesday evening, Kishida decided to skip the Tokyo event as soon as he learned that neither of the two Chinese leaders would be present at the Beijing event.

“ey won’t show up, so it can’t be helped,” Kishida was quoted as saying to those close to him.

In the end, Beijing’s event was attended by Ding Zhongli, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, who is not a member of the Communist Party.

OPEN TO DIALOGUE

Holding a dialogue with Xi, who has vast authority, is essential to resolving pending issues. Kishida is aware of the need to build a relationship with Xi that allows the two to talk, and has repeatedly stated that he is “open to dialogue.”

Although Kishida seeks a reasonable compromise with China, the nature of Beijing’s authoritarian regime means that “it is di cult to see the foreign policy decision-making process and grasp Xi’s intentions,” according to a senior Foreign Ministry o cial.

On Aug. 17, Takeo Akiba, secretary general of the National Security Secretariat, visited China and met with China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi, a member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party. They confirmed the continuation of dialogue, but no significant progress has been made since, and no meeting between the Japanese and Chinese foreign ministers has taken place.

“There has been no mutual trust being fostered at all,” Japanese Ambassador to China Hideo Tarumi said in his address at the Beijing event, reflecting the lack of a festive mood. “This is the most severe situation since the normalization of diplomatic relations.”

Kishida also has heard from business circles, in which many people are hoping for a political thaw. On the other hand, within the Liberal Democratic Party, vigilance toward China has been growing over the situation in Taiwan and economic security. It is also necessary for Japan to strike a balance with the policy of the United States, which regards China as a competitor.

On ursday evening, asked by reporters about a possible summit meeting, Kishida only gave what sounded like a canned answer, saying, “Nothing is set in stone, but we will continue to engage in dialogue at various levels.”

e summit meeting of the

Group of 20 major economies scheduled for November will likely present a good opportunity for the two leaders to have talks.

Will Kishida be able to advance diplomacy with China by carefully using his prudence and boldness as needed? e prime minister’s diplomatic skills will be put to the test. (Oct. 1)