Anniversary of Normal Relationship

Forty-five years have passed since Japan and People’s Republic of China normalized their diplomatic relationship in 1972. Along with China’s unilateral advance to outer land and sea, their bilateral relationship was deteriorated to the extent that Chinese official ships constantly invaded Japan’s territory around Senkaku Islands. It is unclear when the relationship will get back to a normal.

After the post-war rupture with communist China, Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka visited Beijing to reopen the bilateral relationship with China on September 25^th, 1972. Having several meetings with Chinese leaders including Prime Minister Zhou Enlai, Japan and China signed on Joint Statement of Governments of Japan and People’s Republic of China on 29^th.

The statement declared that they would put a period on their past abnormal relationship, which had been existing between them. Japan expressed serious recognition of responsibility and deep regret on giving significant damage on Chinese citizens in the past wars. China declared renouncement of requesting Japan compensation for the damage of wars, in order to generate mutual friendship of both nations. Japan recognized PRC as an only legitimate government of China and ended the official relationship with Taiwan.

After the normalization, both governments exchanged three more important documents: Japan-China Peace and Friendship Treaty in 1978 that reconfirmed not resorting to military in any conflicts, Japan-China Joint Declaration in 1998 that reconfirmed implementation of Murayama Statement for 50^th anniversary of war-end, and Japan-China Joint Statement for strategic reciprocal relationship. They laid a basis of moderate relationship of both governments.

However, collision between Chinese fishing boat and Japanese Coast Guard offshore of Senkaku Islands in 2010, nationalization of Senkaku Islands by Japanese government in 2010 and visit of Yasukuni Shrine by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe deteriorated the relationship. According to a survey by non-profitable organization in Japan, 91.6% of Japanese people answered that they thought their impression on China as “not good.” Books hating China sell well and air pollution, high commodity price and anti-Japan movements make China’s impression worse.

On the other hand, growing number of the Chinese are curious about Japan. They are interested in electric appliances made in Japan or Japanese culture. Economic relationship has not been completely bothered by political dispute of both governments. Based on the hopes for prosperity of both nations, Japan and China need to make serious effort for coexistence in Northeast Asia.