Urged by Senate

Japan takes it as a consequence of its diplomatic efforts. China strongly opposes it. The U.S. Senate passed a resolution supporting peaceful resolution of territorial dispute in Asia-Pacific maritime domains, in which it “opposes any unilateral actions that would seek to undermine” administration of Japan over the Senkaku Islands. Supported by new action of U.S. legislative branch, the government of Japan started diplomatic effort toward China to restore normal bilateral relationship. The key is how China responds.

The resolution urges China to restrain its unilateral activities in both South and East China Sea, “in support of freedom of navigation, the maintenance of peace and stability, and respect for universally recognized principles international law.” On Senkaku, it acknowledges China’s fixing weapons-targeting radar on Japanese vessels in April, as well as its questioning Japan’s sovereignty over Okinawa.

Although the Senate recognizes Chinese assertion on Senkaku as its “core interest,” it understands the issue is more than “interest” for Japan. On that viewpoint, supposedly, the resolution unequivocally states U.S. commitment “under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security to respond to any armed attack in the territories under the administration of Japan.”

Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, Yoshihide Suga, welcomed the resolution, saying “We highly appreciate the resolution as condemning coercive change of status quo and addressing strong commitment in Japan-U.S. security treaty.” Although the response to the passage is still not clear, a spokeswoman of Chinese Foreign Ministry, Hua Chunying, showed its concern in June, saying that the resolution “expresses intentionally neglects history and the current situation, sends the wrong signal and its conducive to property addressing and resolving related issues.”

However, the pressure from U.S. is not only directed to China, but also Japan. U.S. Vice-President, Joe Biden, urged Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe in Singapore to make effort to the peaceful solution. Possibly as the response to the request, Abe sent Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Akitaka Saiki, to China to talk about how to manage the bilateral issues. Saiki reportedly agreed with Chinese officials to at least maintain dialogue between both governments.

Abe insists on resuming high-level talks between top leaders or foreign ministers, while the Chinese are negative on it so far. But, with stronger involvement of U.S., China looks to be shifting its attitude to be positive on restoring bilateral communication. The situation underground would be to what extent the both side can be compromising.