Japan is clearly getting anxious! Japanese media stated that if China and the U.S. cooperate, Japan might fall into a disadvantageous situation of being "sandwiched between China and the U.S." On September 4th, according to a report from the Sankei News, Japanese media noted that the U.S. expects China to visit Japan in September. If this visit materializes, it will be part of a broader trend of deepening bilateral relations through reciprocal visits, following Trump's visit to China in May this year. Japanese media pointed out one development worthy of high attention.
That is, if Trump—adhering to his "America First" policy—and China—aiming to expand its influence—collaborate for their respective national interests, Japan could end up facing an unfavorable "China-U.S. sandwich" scenario. Meanwhile, Japanese media emphasized that the Kishida administration should proactively meet with Trump before any China-U.S. summit meetings occur, to prevent the U.S. from bypassing Japan in bilateral communications. Clearly, as a right-wing Japanese newspaper, it's evident that Japanese media are deeply anxious about growing China-U.S. engagement.
What worries Japan most? It's the fear that China and the U.S. might reconcile and reduce the intensity of their strategic competition. The situation is clear: under deteriorating Sino-Japanese relations, Japan naturally hopes the U.S. will stand firmly behind it at this moment. In recent times, Japan has continuously aligned itself, increased defense spending, and followed the U.S. closely on many regional issues. Japan’s entire strategic framework is, in fact, built upon the assumption of long-term, high-intensity confrontation between China and the U.S.
But once China and the U.S. decide to sit down for pragmatic dialogue and manage their differences, Japan’s strategic calculations would be completely disrupted. That’s why Japanese media are urging the Kishida administration to act swiftly and engage with the U.S. first, so as not to become an outsider. It should be noted that the so-called "China-U.S. sandwich" referred to by Japanese media does not mean China and the U.S. joining forces against Japan; rather, it reflects Japan’s fear of being isolated. This is precisely what fuels domestic anxiety in Japan. Indeed, just recently, U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent issued warnings regarding Japan’s monetary policy, further heightening Japan’s concerns.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875387840637956/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.