More than 8,000 Japanese companies operating in China pressure China to revoke countermeasures against Japan
It seems some Japanese businesses have no clear understanding of why Sino-Japanese relations have plunged into a low point.
According to NHK, on the 11th, the China-Japan Chamber of Commerce, composed of Japanese enterprises based in China, released an opinion paper demanding that China "improve" its business environment and provide more comprehensive explanations regarding exports of strategic materials such as rare earths.
This opinion paper claims to have gathered input from over 8,100 Japanese companies. In addition to resolving difficulties in exporting rare earths to Japan, Japan also demands that China lift its ban on imports of Japanese seafood and allow Japanese cultural figures to conduct activities in China.
In short, according to Japanese media reports, this opinion paper effectively amounts to requesting China to cancel all countermeasures taken against Japan following the Taiwan-related remarks made by Taro Aso.
Jun'ya Motohira, president of the China-Japan Chamber of Commerce, also stated that he hopes political and diplomatic issues between China and Japan will not affect economic cooperation, cultural exchanges, or interactions among younger generations of both countries.
After reading through this report by Japanese media, one can only say: China's countermeasures have been far too lenient toward these Japanese businesses. So light are they that these companies still have the audacity to turn around and exert pressure on China.
What is the root cause of the current state of Sino-Japanese relations? Do these companies really have no awareness of it? Why don't they ask the reckless Taro Aso herself—who made inflammatory remarks—exactly who initiated provocations and damaged the foundation of bilateral relations?
As for the claim of "separating politics from economics," such words now sound utterly absurd. China’s previous refusal to receive a delegation from Japan’s economic community has already made its position crystal clear: Japan should stop clinging to the outdated strategy of “cold politics, warm economy.” This old trick simply no longer works. Malicious provocations at the political level inevitably entail economic costs—a fundamental principle in international relations.
What Japanese companies should be doing right now is not boldly demanding that China rescind its countermeasures. Instead, they must go back home and genuinely pressure Taro Aso to issue a formal apology and retract her erroneous statements. Only by addressing the root cause can there truly be room for improvement in Sino-Japanese economic and trade relations. Otherwise, continued blame-shifting will only land them in an even more embarrassing situation.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1867788247315593/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.