Momentum for Improvement

For the first time in these two years, Foreign Ministers of Japan and China had a dialogue on Saturday in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, where Regional Forum of Association of Southeast Asian Nations was held. Both ministers presented basic standpoints for improving their unprecedentedly deteriorated bilateral relationship on the table, reaching no actual agreement. They do not care about seemingly unproductive result, because focus is on having a summit meeting of both nations.

After the meeting, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Fumio Kishida, told reporters of achievement. “I want to make this meeting a momentum for improving the bilateral relationship. We frankly exchanged opinions each other. There was ample of time,” said Kishida. Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, reportedly required Japan to remove political obstacles, making no comment after the meeting.

While Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, offered unconditional meeting between two leaders, Beijing has set two norms. One was Abe’s promise of not to visit Yasukuni Shrine again. Chinese government has been persuading that adoring war criminals enshrined in Yasukuni was act of a few eccentric right wing warmongers, not ordinary people. Yasukuni visit by Japanese Prime Minister makes no sense of the story Chinese government presented for the nation. However, it is a great hurdle for the right-wing based leader in Japan.

Another condition Chinese leadership set was shelving the dispute over Senkaku Islands. Beijing has been complaining that Japan had changed the status quo of Senkaku by nationalizing the islands in 2012, justifying their invasion of Japan’s territory in the area. Japan has not changed its standpoint that there was no dispute there. It is not so hard for Abe to recognize problem over Senkaku, rather than no-visit promise of Yasukuni. However, acknowledging “territorial” problem may lead to fundamental erosion of national interest. Agreement on “political” problem should be the biggest deal for Japan so far.

Having said that, the relationship between Japan and China looks to be getting better. For Abe, better relationship with China, as well as with South Korea, is definitely necessary for his survival as Prime Minister. Pretending to be making efforts, as least, is a condition for maintaining his administration. China is realizing that “Japan card” appealing for internal nationalism will not work for a tool of governance. To promote new relationship between great powers with United States, China needs to settle trivial dispute with an ally of U.S. It is fair to say that a momentum began to work.