A Glimmer of Hope

By+Bai+Shi

Hopes for improving Sino-Japanese relations rose as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a meeting in Beijing ahead of the 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation （APEC） Economic LeadersMeeting on November 10-11.

The meeting， which was held on November 10 at the request of the Japanese side， was the first between Chinese and Japanese leaders since bilateral relations became strained following a number of disputes over historical and territorial issues over the past two years.

In 2012， the Japanese Government announced its “purchasing” the Diaoyu Islands， part of Chinas territory， which prompted China to issue a stern rebuke. After Abe took office as prime minister for the second time in late 2012， Japan continued to take a tough stance on territorial disputes， intensifying tensions with China. Both Chinese and Japanese ships enhanced patrols around the disputed waters and led to some conflicts. As a result， political talks between the two sides were suspended.

Aside from territorial disputes， the Japanese Government has made some other ill-considered moves. In July， the Abe administration approved a controversial reinterpretation of Japans constitution to end a ban on allowing its military forces to exercise the right to collective self-defense， which many observers believe is the first step in what could be the renewed militarization of Japan.

Historical bad blood between the two sides also complicates current relations. The Japanese Government has long held an ambiguous attitude regarding the Japanese armys atrocities during World War II （WWII）. Many Japanese politicians have repeatedly paid homage at the yasukuni Shrine， which honors 14 Class-A WWII war criminals， in spite of strong opposition from countries that suffered at the hands of Japanese invasion during the war. Last year， Abes visit to the yasukuni Shrine had a serious impact on Japans relations with its East Asian neighbors. Besides China， South Korea also denounced Abes actions.

Earlier this year， Abe repeatedly stated at some international events that he hoped to meet with the Chinese leader during the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Beijing. In response， the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the Japanese side to create a necessary and sound atmosphere for the meeting.

A breakthrough in the diplomatic row was made just days before the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting.

Chinese State Councilor yang Jiechi and visiting National Security Advisor of Japan Shotaro yachi reached a four-point agreement during talks in Beijing on November 7. In the spirit of “facing history squarely and looking forward to the future，” the two sides agreed to resume political， diplomatic and security dialogue while acknowledging differ-ing positions on the Diaoyu Islands.

Observers said that the agreement is a result of mounting domestic and international pressure on the Abe administration.

Eventually， Abe appeared to have adjusted his China policy. During his meeting with Xi， Abe said that Japan is determined to continue on a path of peaceful development， noting that the current Japanese administration will maintain the same views held by previous governments on historical issues.

Japan is willing to implement the fourpoint agreement， properly handle related issues and make it the new starting point for promoting the improvement and development of the strategic and mutually beneficial relations between Japan and China， Abe said.

“Chinas peaceful development is a significant opportunity for Japan and the world，” Abe said.

Qu Xing， Director of the China Institute of International Studies， said that the meeting between Xi and Abe was held at the request of the Japanese side， which is different from a working visit or a formal visit between leaders.“In a sense， the Xi-Abe meeting helped improve Sino-Japanese relations，” he said.

Xi again stressed the political basis for improving Sino-Japanese relations when meeting with Abe.

“The Japanese Government must follow the four political documents between China and Japan and honor the commitments made by successive Japanese administrations， including a speech by former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama in which he stated that Japan， through colonial rule and aggression， caused great damage and suffering to people of many countries， particularly in Asia， and that no such mistake should be made in the future，” Xi said. “Only in this way could Japan develop friendly and forwardlooking ties with its Asian neighbors.”

The four political documents between China and Japan refer to the China-Japan Joint Statement inked in 1972， the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1978， the China-Japan Joint Declaration of 1998 and a joint statement on advancing strategic and mutually beneficial relations in a comprehensive way that was signed in 2008.

Chinese observers said that if Japan can take the four-point agreement seriously and earnestly implement it， the two countries relations will gradually improve； otherwise， relations between the two will be further strained.

Gao Hong， Deputy Director of the Institute of Japanese Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences （CASS）， said that the four-point agreement is a necessary diplomatic step to improve Sino-Japanese ties.

yang Bojiang， another Deputy Director of the Institute of Japanese Studies under the CASS， pointed out that the disputes between China and Japan are deep-rooted. According to yang， Abe had to show an active stance because he faces mounting political pressure at home and abroad.

“In terms of the economy， the short-term stimulatory effect of Abenomics has approached an end， but the long-term stimulus has not ensued. For this reason， many international financial institutions have revised downward the growth forecast for the Japanese economy，” yang said. “In addition， many Japanese people have questioned why Abe has not maintained sound relations with neighboring countries.”

Japans most important partner， the United States， has also urged it to pursue negotiations to resolve disputes.

“In the future， if he breaks with the consensus， Abe will harm not only Sino-Japanese relations but also his political career，” yang said.“The road ahead must be full of twists and turns. It cannot exclude the possibility that tensions could return. So we should keep alert.”