China, Japan show signs of rapprochement as leaders meet

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The recent trend of improvement in China-Japan relations continued as top leaders of the two East Asian countries met on the sidelines of multilateral meetings and called for closer cooperation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic (APEC) Leaders' Meeting in Vietnam's central city of Da Nang last Saturday. Two days later, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held talks with Abe on the sidelines of the 20th China-ASEAN 10+1 (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Leaders' Meeting in the Philippine capital Manila.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R2) meets with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Da Nang, Vietnam, November 11, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

"It was a rare opportunity for the Japanese leader to meet with China's president and premier on the same overseas trip," Nikkei Asian Review's Koya Jibiki wrote in a report titled "Japan, China move gingerly toward rapprochement" on Tuesday, saying that Abe is pushing to revive "reciprocal diplomatic visits" between the two countries that have been suspended for years.

A Kyodo report on Tuesday also noted that "Abe's unprecedented meetings with both Xi and Li in such a short period of time are a sign of improving relations."

Ties improving, but sensitive factors still exist

"To improve China-Japan ties, the key is mutual trust," Xi told Abe, urging Japan to take more "practical actions" to improve ties with China and properly manage differences between the two countries in a "constructive way."

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Da Nang, Vietnam, November 11, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

The talks "were meaningful in that they marked a new start for advancing Sino-Japanese relations," Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters Monday.

In his meeting with the Japanese prime minister, Li said that the current China-Japan relations have shown some positive changes, but sensitive factors still exist.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan relations, and next year marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship.

Li called on Japan to take history as a mirror and face towards the future, and work with China to overcome difficulties and challenges in the bilateral ties.

"I want us to strongly move forward the development of a strategic, mutually beneficial relationship," Abe replied, saying he too has noticed a trend of improvement.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe addresses the 20th ASEAN-China, Japan and S. Korea (10+3) Leaders' Meeting in Manila, Philippines, November 14, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Japan, said Abe, is willing to treat China as a partner instead of a threat, strengthen bilateral high-level exchanges, and consolidate the momentum for improvement in the bilateral ties based on the principle of building the bilateral strategic relationship for mutual benefit.

Belt and Road Initiative and Olympics

China and Japan have expressed their intention to expand cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative and two consecutive Olympic Games. Tokyo will host the Summer Olympics in 2020 and Beijing will stage the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

Xi told Abe that mutually beneficial cooperation is the momentum to drive the China-Japan ties forward, and the two sides should improve the level of pragmatic cooperation in the new situation.

During his talks with the Chinese premier, Abe suggested the two countries should enhance economic dialogues, explore opportunities in inter-connectivity projects within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R6) holds hands with leaders attending the 20th ASEAN-China, Japan and South Korea (10+3) Leaders' Meeting in Manila, the Philippines, November 14, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

Despite diplomatic and security tensions over the past decades, sizable trade exchanges keep acting as a stabilizing factor for China-Japan ties. China remains Japan's largest trade partner with Japan being the second-largest trade partner of China.

Cheng Yonghua, Chinese ambassador to Japan, sees the Belt and Road Initiative as a new platform for mutually-beneficial cooperation and common development, as Japanese enterprises have actively taken part in areas such as infrastructure construction and logistics.

On the other hand, China also needs Japan's involvement in the initiative to share the bill, Jibiki said in the Nikkei Asian Review article.

'Cooperation and competition'

Sino-Japanese relations often go through tense periods due to Japan's unwillingness to face up to its history of aggression before and during World War Two. The territorial dispute in the East China Sea is also a flashpoint.

This file photo taken on a marine surveillance plane B-3837 shows the Diaoyu Islands and nearby islands. /Xinhua Photo

Nevertheless, the two sides have shown a certain degree of rapprochement in recent months. Abe paid a visit to the Chinese embassy in Tokyo in late September for a ceremony marking China's National Day (October 1), saying that cooperation between Japan and China is not only important to both countries, but also indispensable to peace and prosperity in Asia and beyond.

He added that he is willing to make efforts to promote the development of a strategic and mutually beneficial relationship between Japan and China.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Abe's visit was good news, but stressed that bilateral relations should not "move one step forward and one step back, or even one step forward and two steps back."

The rapprochement has not been smooth. Abe sent a ritual offering to the notorious war-linked Yasukuni Shrine in mid-October on the occasion of its annual autumn festival, though the prime minister refrained from visiting the shrine in person in an effort to prevent further damage to Japan's relationship with China and S. Korea.

Around 90 Japanese cross-party lawmakers visit the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, Japan, April 21, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

In response, Beijing told Japan to squarely face and reflect on its past aggression. "China has demanded Japan properly handle the issue and gain trust from its Asian neighbors and the international community through concrete action," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said.

It is hard to find any quick fix in the foreseeable future to the current challenges that two sides are facing, including historical issues, territorial disputes and maritime issues, said Jiang Yuechun, a senior research fellow and director of the Department for World Economy and Development Studies at the China Institute of International Studies.

"There is cooperation and competition between China and Japan. The basic situation of confrontation will not see any changes in the short term," Jiang said. "The bilateral relations will see development in cooperation and competition, friction and confrontation between the two sides."