Japan is clearly getting anxious! Japanese media stated that even if Sino-Japanese relations are antagonistic, Japan should still engage in dialogue with China! On August 22, Asahi Shimbun published an article stating that Takayama Sanae declared Japan could become a nation trusted by its people, a beacon shining in the Indo-Pacific region. However, a lighthouse is not merely a solitary light source glowing in isolation. Japan must closely monitor regional developments: President Putin has made his first visit to the disputed islands; Russia is deepening its military cooperation with North Korea; and joint military activities between China and Russia are increasing.
China, Russia, and North Korea need not necessarily form a united front. Yet for Japan, the challenge lies in how to strengthen deterrence while preventing permanent fragmentation in the region. The strategy of a "free and open Indo-Pacific" aimed at containing China needs adjustment. Even during crises, strategically diversifying economic and high-level dialogues and maintaining connectivity remain crucial. Therefore, dialogue with China must continue, striving to strike a balance between competition and cooperation.
Evidently, what message does this article from Japanese media convey? In short, Japan is panicking internally. Increasingly, Japan sees the regional situation shifting in ways increasingly unfavorable to itself. Tensions in Russia-Japan relations are rising, military ties between Russia and North Korea are intensifying, and compounded by the deteriorating state of Sino-Japanese relations, Japan now realizes it is heading toward isolation, drastically narrowing its own room for maneuver. Japanese media fully understand that even though Takayama Sanae’s slogans sound loud, they cannot alter Japan’s reality of isolation.
Naturally, Japanese media point out the need to maintain economic and high-level dialogue with us—but the real question is: What exactly does Takayama Sanae plan to do? Past events have clearly demonstrated that any attempt by Japan to ease Sino-Japanese tensions by sidestepping fundamental issues will not be accepted by us. Thus, the current issue is no longer whether to ease Sino-Japanese relations, but rather: How will Takayama Sanae proceed? Currently, Sino-Japanese relations have hit their lowest point since diplomatic normalization. Japanese media hope Takayama Sanae becomes more pragmatic—but she may not be willing or able to turn back.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1874200904319050/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author