"GFJ Commentary" introduces news analyses andopinions in Japan on the relations of Japan with therest of the world, but they do not represent the views ofGFJ as an institution.

July 26, 2007

Indirect Support from Japan Is Key to China'sReform
By KOKUBUN Ryosei
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao described Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to China last
October was an "ice-breaking visit." This time, he described his own trip to Japan as an "ice-meltingvisit." The two countries may still be harboring deep suspicions about each other, but the ice hasdefinitely begun to thaw. We can praise Wen's visit to Japan was a success in the sense that itpropelled bi-lateral relations forward.
The highlight of Wen's visit was the speech he gave at the Diet. And the most dramatic part of his
address was when he stated: "Ever since normalization of diplomatic ties between China and Japan
took place, the Japanese government and Japanese leaders have stated on many occasions theirstance on history-related problems, publicly acknowledged their invasion and expressed their deep
remorse and regret to victimized nations. That is something that the Chinese government and people
recognize positively."
In recent years a sense of dissatisfaction had been spreading throughout the Japanese side: "Howmany times must Japan apologize?" With Wen's words China has now publicly acknowledged thatJapan's handling of the historical issues has been basically correct-though he did remind Japan that it
was important to continue to act on the words made so far.
Another notable development was the contents of the "mutually beneficial strategic relationship" thatthe two countries aim to build. Specific key points were revealed in a joint press release issued after
the summit meeting took place.
The first is to promote dialogue. It was agreed that leaders of both countries will continue to visit
and meet with each other; the two counties will maintain high-level economic and diplomatic
dialogue; and further it was agreed that China will send its naval vessel to Japan for a visit, andJapan will send its Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) vessel to China for a visit.

1Secondly, Japan and China will strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as energy,
environmental protection, agriculture and finance. Thirdly, the two countries agreed to work together
in the international front, in relation to U.N. reform and issues concerning North Korea.
Apart from these goals, the leaders touched on the issue of the East China Sea. How will the twocountries turn the disputed waters into a "sea of cooperation" -that will be the initial test for thestrategic relationship to prove itself.
In recent years, there has been a great progress in Japan-China exchanges on the people level, andthere has been an increasing amount of cultural contact. On the economic side, mutualinterdependence has deepened significantly. Japan's economic recovery has come to rely heavily on
the Chinese market. Despite such realities, or rather, depending on such realities, the political world
did nothing to mend the strained Japan-China relations for many years.
In both countries, historical issues became intertwined with domestic politics that bogged them down,
rendering both sides immobile. The world watched the standstill. There were news reports that
almost made it sound as if a Japan-China war would soon break out. Some went as far as claimingthat Japan and China lacked the ability to solve the problem on their own. The United Sates,
European countries and South Korea made a move to volunteer to serve as mediator.
Actually it was Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who managed a breakthrough in the stifling
situation, by making a surprise visit to China. His diplomatic action to put national interest at theforemost putting personal beliefs aside pushed up his support ratings. Up until then, China had
maintained that visits to the Yasukuni Shrine where Class-A war criminals are honored along withJapan's war dead, must be halted, if summit meetings were to take place. However, China's President
Hu Jintao chose to turn a blind eye to this resolution, managed to reign in the discontent arising fromthe party, and decided to place priority on normalization of bilateral relations. The rapprochement
was thus brought about owing much to the trust and resolution made by the two leaders.
Is it all right to say that Japan-China relations are now going to be safe and secure? The answer tothat question is no. The relationship between the two countries soured over many long years, andthat has left the people of the two countries harboring extremely negative images against each other.
Just because their leaders resume relations, that won't be enough to change everything. Deep-rooted
resentment remains among some people and political forces that do not welcome the compromise
shown by the two countries towards improving relations. The Chinese government is actually
suppressing such resentment from surfacing.

2There is a school of thought that claims normal bi-lateral ties with China will never be realized
unless the country becomes fully democratized. Indeed, China is not a democratic entity. And I am
one of those people who have long hoped to see a democratized China. As an academic, I have been
seeking the possibility of that actually taking place. Having said that, I do not think it is impossible
to interact with the China as it is now. The United States and European countries are now trying tocurtail demands against China regarding human rights and democracy. These countries are rather atpains to strengthen ties with the real China before them, a country with ever-increasing presence.
To trace the history of the two countries, Japan first began offering financial support to China when
it began taking its baby steps toward a route of reform and liberalization. Japan was intent on
keeping the country from turning back. When Beijing found itself in a tight spot after the Tiananmen
Square protests of 1989, Japan scrambled around doing its best to prevent China from becominginternationally isolated. Further down the road, China chose to make the transition to a market
economy, and entered a phase of strong economic growth, which is still on-going. Japan wasinstrumental in enhancing China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO). In other words,
Japan has always been there offering China indirect support so as to facilitate the country's reform.
Tokyo did it more than the United States and European countries that insisted on China'sdemocratization.
However, the real structural reform for China must be completed hereon. And the work is going tobe uphill. There is not a single country that hopes to see China, now deeply integrated with theglobal economy, become embroiled in confusion. In order to ensure China completes a smooth andstable transition, Japan also faces a crucial stage as it tries to fulfill its mission in offering the muchneeded indirect support. China needs Japan's help. Especially valuable are the experiences Japan
accumulated as a forerunner -including the successes and the failures. I believe that herein lies thenumerous bridges that will help build the mutually beneficial strategic relationship between the twocountries.

(This is the text of an article by KOKUBUN Ryosei, Professor, Contemporary Chinese studies,
Keio University, and a Member of the Global Forum of Japan (GFJ), which originallyappeared on the The Asahi Shimbun’s website “Asahi.com” on April 21, 2007.
http://www.asahi.com/english/asianet/hatsu/eng_hatsu070421.html)

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