After the historic upgrade in US-Japan relations, the Japanese government recently released the 2024 edition of the “Diplomatic Bluebook,” reaffirming the strategic reciprocity between China and Japan but also highlighting the unprecedented diplomatic and military challenges posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as Japan pledges to cooperate with allies and like-minded countries in response.
Japan’s approach to dealing with the CCP threat this year has garnered widespread attention. Experts analyze that Japan has adopted a two-pronged strategy: on one hand, strengthening its alliance with the United States to confront China with strength, and on the other hand, seeking to ease tensions with China.
Annually, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes the Diplomatic Bluebook, detailing Japan’s understanding of the international situation and its foreign policy. This year’s Bluebook once again mentions the “strategic reciprocal relationship” between Japan and China, after a five-year hiatus.
The strategic reciprocal relationship between Japan and China dates back to 2006 when then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reached a consensus with then-Chinese President Hu Jintao during Abe’s visit to China. It was later included in the joint statement of the two countries in 2008, serving as a foundation for Japan-China diplomatic relations.
Chinese affairs expert Wang He told Epoch Times that Japan’s reiteration of the strategic reciprocal relationship with China demonstrates Japan’s two-pronged strategy.
He stated, “Japan’s tougher stance towards the CCP uses the U.S.-Japan alliance as a cornerstone to confront China with strength.”
“Through the U.S.-Japan alliance, Japan aims to effectively deter China. While this deterrence is rapidly advancing, Japan also hopes to ease the relationship between China and Japan, as it does not want to see conflict between the two countries.”
He added that while Japan sees China as its neighbor, efforts should be made to ensure bilateral cooperation and constructive, stable relations between the two nations.
China is Japan’s largest trading partner, export destination, and import source country. According to data from the General Administration of Customs of China, the total trade volume between China and Japan in 2023 was $317.98 billion, representing over one-fifth of Japan’s total foreign trade and a 10.7% decrease from 2022.
Consultant Wu Se from Taiwan pointed out to Epoch Times, “This strategic reciprocity, to some extent, does not signify an improvement in Sino-Japanese relations but rather stems from the differing external strategies and national interests of both countries. The goal is to find possibilities for reciprocal benefits through continuous communication and negotiation.”
The Taiwan issue is a focal point of Japan’s Diplomatic Bluebook this year, emphasizing that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are crucial for Japan’s security and overall stability in the international community. During the G7 summit held in Hiroshima, Japan in 2023, the importance of this issue was reiterated, with a unified call for peaceful resolution of cross-strait problems.
Japan’s shift in policy towards countering the CCP began in 2021, following increased military threats to Taiwan by the CCP after Tsai Ing-wen’s election as President of Taiwan in 2020. CCP military actions, including sending warships and military aircraft to intimidate Taiwan and conducting military exercises in the surrounding airspace, raised significant concerns for the Japanese government. Former Japanese Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso stated that any major issue in Taiwan would constitute a “crisis” endangering Japan’s survival. On December 1, 2021, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe publicly stated that an issue in Taiwan would equate to an issue for Japan.
The crisis in Taiwan prompted the Japanese government to make crucial decisions and enhance cooperation with the United States. Wang He remarked, “The upgrade of the U.S.-Japan security alliance is significant. Recently, [Fumio] Kishida went to the U.S., and the two sides have achieved a historic enhancement, aiming to prepare for a possible conflict in the Taiwan Strait.”
“From the perspective of the U.S. and Japan, the issue is not whether there will be a Taiwan Strait conflict but when it will happen and how the U.S. and Japan will respond, all of which are part of their preparation for real combat.”
In concrete operational terms, Wang noted that if the CCP were to use force against Taiwan, posing a significant military threat to Japan, the U.S. and Japan alliance may be activated.
The new Diplomatic Bluebook from Japan also points out that China (CCP) holds significant influence in international politics, economics, and military affairs in recent years. The current outward posture and military movements of China (CCP) are deeply concerning to Japan and the international community, posing the biggest strategic challenge. Japan intends to cooperate with allies and like-minded countries to address these challenges.
The CCP criticized Japan’s Diplomatic Bluebook for exaggerating the “threat from China (CCP).”
Wang He expressed that “Japan is highly vigilant against China (CCP) on a strategic level,” opining that Japan views the CCP as its most significant strategic threat and is implementing comprehensive military reforms.
“The rapid military development of the CCP poses a significant threat to Japan. Japan alone is unable to confront China, so Japan is resolutely bringing the U.S. into Asia, the Indo-Pacific region in particular, through the U.S.-Japan military alliance to deter China.”
“This is the foundation of Japan. With this strength and preparation in place, Japan seeks cooperation, compromise, and concessions with China.”
Japan is actively forging alliances with other countries. On April 8, the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia issued a joint statement announcing their consideration of collaborating with Japan on advanced technology projects under the AUKUS security agreement.
On April 10, after a meeting at the White House between U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the two countries declared the initiation of a new era of strategic cooperation.
Fumio Kishida stated, “In the event of an attack, a consultation with each other is necessary,” fostering trilateral security cooperation to address threats from North Korea and China (CCP).
Political tensions between China (CCP) and Japan continue, with the Chinese navy conducting maneuvers near Japan’s waters and Chinese and Russian warships and aircraft operating jointly in the vicinity of Japan, as outlined in the new Diplomatic Bluebook.
The Bluebook also highlights China (CCP)’s attempts, including cooperation with Russia, to unilaterally change the status quo through the use of force in the East China Sea, including the Diaoyu Islands (known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan), as well as the South China Sea. These activities have raised numerous concerns and uncertainties in Japan’s surrounding areas.
The new Diplomatic Bluebook explicitly states that the importance of the Quad, comprised of the G7, the U.S.-Japan-Australia-India coalition, and cooperation mechanisms with allies and like-minded countries like Japan, the U.S., and South Korea, is increasing. This reflects the deepening divide between democratic nations that value sovereignty and countries that adopt hegemonic stances towards neighboring countries.
The alliance between Japan and South Korea marks the third regional security alliance facilitated by the United States in the Indo-Pacific region. For the first time in 14 years, the Bluebook describes South Korea as a partner, emphasizing the necessity of close cooperation between Japan and South Korea for the security of the Indo-Pacific region.
The breakthrough in Japan-South Korea relations began last year. In March 2023, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol visited Japan, followed by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to South Korea on May 7. This visit marked the first time a Japanese leader had visited South Korea in 12 years. On August 18, U.S. President Joe Biden held a trilateral summit with Fumio Kishida and Yoon Suk-yeol. The joint statement from this summit emphasized the need for trilateral security cooperation to address threats from North Korea and China (CCP).
The revitalized joint military exercises between the U.S., Japan, and South Korea under U.S. leadership symbolize a strengthened military alliance in East Asia. These nations are clearly working to establish an Asian version of NATO, with China (CCP) as the focal point.
“The role of Japan in security affairs in the Indo-Pacific is on the rise. Japan has gradually enhanced its defense capabilities and increased defense budget allocation,” stated Chen Shimin, an associate professor at National Taiwan University.
Editor-in-chief Guo Jun of The Epoch Times stated in the Elite Forum, “For the CCP, cooperation between the U.S. and Japan is the greatest geopolitical nightmare, a nightmare that the CCP has brought upon itself.”
Editor: Sun Yun#