The Provocative Comments Made by Hillary Clinton Will Not Hinder the Improvement of Sino-Japanese Relations

Published in Huanqiu
(China ) on 21 January 2012
by Ling Jianhao (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Jingman Xiao. Edited by Gillian Palmer.
Recently there have been a growing number of conflicts between China and Japan, making the international community anxious about the potential clash. America has been neutral regarding the fights for sovereignty over the islands but its attitudes have altered subtly. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton mentioned that Japan owns the Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Islands in China) and that America is opposed to any unilateral action intended to sabotage Japanese jurisdiction during a meeting with Japanese Minister of State Fumio Kishida last Friday.

Hillary seems to have implied that America has taken its stand on this issue. For a long time, America’s attitudes have been quite ambiguous in order not to get involved in the conflicts between the two countries. However, what China has done recently makes America worry that wars might break out, which is why it sent an implication that America and Japan will cope with the issues in the sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands through this talk — with a goal to contain China, let China restrain itself and thus prevent the situation from getting out of hand. However, if we want to be sure of what America’s stand is, we have to wait until Japanese Prime Minister Abe’s visit to America next month to draw our conclusion.

On the face of it, China has been appearing determined and acting tough, but this may not be the case. Some days ago, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Staff Department published the “2013 Military Training Instructions,” demanding that the PLA be prepared to fight, which is why the outside world might relate this to the possibility of the two countries going to war. However, at the same time, China announced that it will restrain itself militarily. Does it mean that what China has been doing recently is nothing more than a demonstration?

China is still acting tough against Japan diplomatically, but it seems to be willing to amend diplomatic relations under the table.

Recently, the big figures in Japanese politics have kept visiting China. Last week former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama visited China by invitation of a Chinese academic group; another former prime minister, Tomiichi Murayama, and former Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) representative Koichi Kato also made their visits this month. Both China and Japan apparently are trying to improve the tense relationship bottom-up through the people.

During his visit to Thailand, Abe made clear again his wish to amend the Sino-Japanese relationship. Besides, Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of the New Komeito Party, the coalition partner with the LDP, will also visit Beijing and hand in a letter by Abe to Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the Communist Party. This indicates the continuous kindness Japan conveys.

Seen from the outside, there are increasingly more conflicts between China and Japan, but both have been increasing contact through non-governmental exchanges and communication to improve relations. Despite speculation by the outside world that war might break out between China and Japan, so far, both seem willing to solve the problems peacefully; the chances of initiating wars are very slim.


香港《信报》1月21日文章 原题:希拉里言论无阻中日关系改善 近期中日磨擦增多,国际间都担心会否擦枪走火。美国在岛屿主权争议的问题上态度一直中立,但近期却有些微改变。国务卿希拉里上周五会见日本外相岸田文雄时提到日本拥有尖阁诸岛(中方称钓鱼岛)的管辖权,反对任何单方面破坏日本管辖钓鱼岛的行动。

  希拉里似乎暗示美方在此问题的立场开始转变。一直以来,美国为免卷入中日两国的纷争,态度一直暧昧。但中国近期的行为令美国担心中日可能爆发冲突,所以透过此番讲话,暗示美日会共同应对钓鱼岛主权问题,目的是要中国克制,避免两国争端恶化。不过,若要进一步确认美方的立场,则要留待日本首相安倍晋三下月访美才有定论。

  表面上中方近期的立场和行为都是坚持强硬,但事实可能并非如此。近日中国总参谋部发表《二○一三年全军事训练指示》,表明解放军要做好作战准备,外界难免会联想到中日开战的可能。不过,中国却同时表示,会在军事措施上保持克制,这是否代表中方近期的举动,只属示威性质?

  中方在外交上对日立场依然强硬,但私底下似乎愿意修补外交关系。

-
  近期,日本政界的重量级人物相继访华。上周前首相鸠山由纪夫应中国学术团体的邀请访华;另一前首相村山富市及前自民党干事长加藤纮一也在月内访华。中日双方明显借民间的渠道由下而上改善紧张关系。

  安倍在访问泰国时,再表明希望修补中日关系,而且同属执政联盟的公明党党魁山口那津男也将会访问北京,并向中共总书记习近平转交安倍的亲笔信,可见日方也不断释出善意。

  表面上,中日两国磨擦渐多,但双方一直透过民间交流增加接触,从而改善两国的关系。近期外界猜测,中日双方可能会爆发战争,但就现时情况看,双方似希望用和平方式解决纷争,开战的机会似是微乎其微。

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