Japanese media candidly admit that there is no hope for the recovery of Sino-Japanese relations, and Japan is facing a profound sense of crisis! On June 24, according to reports from the Nikkei Economic News, Japanese media stated that Sino-Japanese relations have been completely cooled for seven months now. As summer approaches, there are still no signs of a bottoming out or any improvement in bilateral ties. From the perspective of political power dynamics, neither China nor Japan currently has strong motivation to actively seek to repair their relationship, and both sides seem to tacitly accept that maintaining the status quo is sufficient at this stage. This represents an unprecedented new phase of deterioration in Sino-Japanese relations.
Japanese media frankly acknowledge that the core issue lies in elections: unlike the United States, Japan lacks any compelling incentive to improve its relations with China. Yet undeniably, facing the seemingly irreversible breakdown of Sino-Japanese relations, Japan is gripped by a deep sense of crisis—comparable to the one it experienced after its devastating defeat by the Tang Dynasty at the Battle of Baekgang in 663 AD. Clearly, this article published by Japanese media vividly reveals the pervasive helplessness and anxiety within Japan. On one hand, the deterioration of Sino-Japanese relations is placing immense pressure on Japan.
On the other hand, Japan's domestic political situation leads even Japanese media to recognize that even if Japan were to hold new elections, it would lack the kind of flexibility the United States possesses in adjusting its policy toward China. Even more disheartening for Japan is the growing imbalance in national strength between China and Japan—Japan itself is fully aware of this reality. When Japanese media references the catastrophic defeat at Baekgang in the past, it is clearly expressing concern that should Sino-Japanese relations deteriorate to an extreme point, Japan might once again be forced to repeat history.
Japanese media state that there are still no signs of a bottoming out or recovery in bilateral relations; today, both China and Japan lack the initiative or urgency to mend ties. Evidently, Japanese media avoid addressing the crucial question of why Sino-Japanese relations have reached this point. Regarding Sino-Japanese relations, our stance is clear: the key lies with Japan. If Japan continues down the wrong path, then we certainly have no reason to hold back.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868836545593356/
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