Japan’s Unilateral Change of the Diaoyu Islands Status Quo Challenges Post-war International Order
Finally, the U.S. stance also partly accounts for Japan’s radical actions. Japan’s political line on China has always matched the American attitude in this regard. Consequently when the U.S. takes an opposing stand on issues concerning China, Japan often displays a more radical tendency, and at times when the U.S. tries to ameliorate relations with China, Japan inhibits its antagonism. Japan’s tough attitude with respect to the Diaoyu Islands hence has much to do with the U.S. strategy of returning to the Asia-Pacific. As the U.S. wades into affairs in the South China Sea, Japan has taken the chance to get closer to the Philippines and Vietnam and also constantly requests the U.S. to put the Diaoyu Islands within the protection area of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security Between Japan and the United States in an attempt to strengthen its control of the Diaoyu Islands through American clout. In spite of its non-committal attitude on jurisdiction of the Islands, the U.S. has confirmed that the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security Between Japan and the United States covers the Diaoyu Islands, thus acting as a shield for Japan’s untrammeled behaviors.
Japan’s Actions Crucial to the Future of China-Japan Relations
Both China and Japan are clearly aware that issues concerning Taiwan, history and territory constitute a tinderbox with respect to bilateral relations. Japan’s recent provocations have intensified the sensitive nature of the Diaoyu Islands issue and had immensely negative impact on bilateral ties. Assistant Foreign Minister Le Yucheng remarked at the symposium on Diaoyu Islands on September 14 that Japan’s “purchase” of the islands is a result of the changing political climate in Japan. “There is a sinister tendency inside Japan that is taking Japan and China-Japan relations down an extremely dangerous road,” Le said. He clearly analyzed in his comments the negative impact of Japan’s audacious “nationalization” on China-Japan relations.
Last September marked the 40th anniversary of normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations – an apt opportunity for the two sides to celebrate the event with a show of amity. Japan’s unilateral actions, however, have soured this great event and also greatly undermined the fragile foundation of mutual trust between the two sides.
Meanwhile, nationwide anti-Japan protests have erupted. China’s populace cherishes good will within this bilateral relationship. The Chinese people have no innate dislike of Japan, but rather of the unconscionable attitudes and actions of the Japanese government and its right-wing radicals. A 2012 survey of Chinese public opinion on Japan shows that the two main sources of Chinese people’s negative feelings about Japan are Japan’s stand on historical issues and its seizure of China’s Diaoyu Islands. If Japan continues to ignore Chinese people’s rights and fail to make any effort to ameliorate these bilateral ties, it will become very hard for it to win over the Chinese people and repair bilateral relations.
As Premier Wen Jiabao stated in a lecture at the China Foreign Affairs University on September 10, “On issues concerning its sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese government will make no concession.” If Japan continues to cling obstinately to its unlawful actions, the inevitable result will be a major reversal in bilateral relations that will also deal a serious blow to Japan’s interests.
