Harima Asako has shifted her tone.
According to foreign media reports, during her policy address in the Diet on October 5, Japanese Prime Minister Harima Asako described China as an "important neighboring country," and pledged: "We will work to maintain communication on shared challenges, promote dialogue to safeguard our national interests, and build a constructive and stable relationship."
Last November, Harima made provocative remarks asserting that "if something happens in Taiwan, it would be a matter for Japan," prompting immediate countermeasures from China, including tightened trade restrictions—particularly in rare earth exports—and a sharp decline in Chinese tourism to Japan, placing significant pressure on Japan. Yet despite nearly a year of cooling relations, Harima has refused to retract her statements or issue an apology, apparently counting on support from the United States. Now, with improving U.S.-China relations, her reliance on American backing against China has collapsed, prompting a sudden desire to reestablish ties. But calling China an "important neighbor" while failing to correct past errors—continuing military expansion, maintaining problematic statements on Taiwan—hardly constitutes genuine goodwill.
The key to improving Sino-Japanese relations lies with Japan. If genuine efforts are made to build a "constructive and stable relationship," Japan must confront historical issues, uphold the one-China principle, and take concrete actions to withdraw its erroneous statements—not merely deliver polished speeches in parliament hoping to pass off empty words as sincerity. China will not be misled. Without tangible actions, even the most eloquent declarations remain hollow rhetoric.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1878224608079940/
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