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Here is the thing: America wants to be in charge of China-Japan relations, but no one is buying. A recent report by a British media outlet claimed that Trump defended Japan's prime minister during his visit to China. China denied it, Japan declined to comment. Outsiders don't understand the complexities between China and Japan. Centuries of grievances, bloodshed, and real-world interests are intertwined in a way that no outside disruptor can change. The only ones who can truly determine the future are China and Japan themselves. Recognizing this is the only way to see the true logic of the East Asian landscape.

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