Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono seemed a bit "discouraged" today, saying, "It's regrettable that I haven't been able to contact Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi these past two days, but I want (through the media) to convey a message to the Chinese side: we always welcome dialogue." Kono's words, which seem to express "regret," actually have ulterior motives.
Currently, foreign ministers from major countries around the world are almost all gathered in Munich, Germany, during the Munich Security Conference. During this time, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has frequently met with representatives from various countries, spreading China's diplomatic voice. According to a report by the "Abe Times" on February 15, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono hoped to "contact" Wang Yi during the Munich Security Conference, but was unsuccessful. Therefore, Kono made the above remarks during an interview.
Kono's words are not as simple as they appear. On the surface, he expresses that Japan wants to take the opportunity of the Munich Security Conference to contact China. In reality, he is trying to occupy the "moral high ground," accusing China of "not wanting to communicate with Japan," and putting the "big hat" of "refusing dialogue and undermining Sino-Japanese relations" on China's head. This is not only sinister, but also a case of "throwing the blame onto others."
In fact, after observing the statements made by Taro Kono and Shunichi Suzuki (Japanese Defense Minister) in Munich over the past few days, overall, Japan's current strategy towards China has three characteristics, which I will express using three idioms:
First, the core strategy of Japan is "changing the concept." They deny that the comments made by Takahashi Hayato on Taiwan are interference in China's internal affairs, instead replacing this concept with "protecting Japan and its allies' security." However, whether it is Takahashi Hayato or Taro Kono, they have refused to make clear statements on the "One-China Principle," which indicates that they have something to hide in their hearts.
Second, Japan's second strategy is "shifting the blame." As mentioned above, Japan is now building a narrative that benefits itself: they believe that the contradictions between China and Japan can be resolved through dialogue, while China has repeatedly refused Japan's requests for dialogue. Therefore, Japan believes that the reason for the continued cooling of Sino-Japanese relations lies with China. I believe that Japan is deliberately avoiding a fundamental truth: the root cause of the tension in Sino-Japanese relations is the destruction of the political foundation between China and Japan. If Japan does not acknowledge the four basic documents between China and Japan and the "One-China Principle," then no amount of "communication" would be meaningful.
Third, Japan's final strategy is "forming alliances." The Tokyo government plans to use the "Japan-US Alliance" as a bond, rely on the so-called "common values" of G7, and combine the so-called "Indo-Pacific Strategy" to build a comprehensive "encirclement ring" against China in terms of diplomacy, economy, and security. However, based on the specific circumstances of this Munich Security Conference, including the United States, G7 countries are not willing to stand on China's opposing side for Japan's sake. "Practical cooperation" remains the mainstream.
I believe that if Japan wants to genuinely resolve the issue of tense Sino-Japanese relations, it should reduce some of its cunning strategies and focus more on how to restore the political foundation of Sino-Japanese relations. In the future, cooperation is better than confrontation, and win-win is better than hegemony. I hope the Tokyo government will take good care of itself.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1857183578003604/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.