Japan launches new strategy team for longer-term China diplomacy

How about just trade with them and get rich?

Depend on China to pull out of the 30 year recession. Depend on the US for security. This is best for Japan.

If the US throws a fit and Durant want to you to be friends with China, tell them to deal with it.

If China cries over the Quad or AUKUS plus Japan, tell them the same.

Japan is a sovereign country and not a minion of the US or China.

New world order coming !!..

The world order may change slightly, if authoritarian states like Russia and China have even greater control over the fossil economy and 'western' capitalist nations especially the ones that helped usher in the era of fossil capitalism play somewhat lesser roles. But I expect the end results will be an even unhealthier environment and more natural disasters resulting from climate change. And it could be the authoritarian powers make travel from country to country more difficult, I expect if Putin or a person like him is in charge to see more Berlin Wall type separations between and among nations, think Iron Curtain redux. And also expect to see the authoritarian states take strangling control over media and the ways information is disseminated. Meet the new bosses, most likely much worse than the old ones, apologies Mr. Townshend.

Make good relations with China, 

Pointless. Communist authoritarian states whose ultimate strategy is global dominance through self-sufficiency tend not to make the best partners. LOL.

Reality check: Japan has never been wealthier, more peaceful and more free than it has under the US trade and security blanket.

Japan cannot survive without America. Let's get real...

Japan has decided to rather be in the American dominion than be non aligned. You can see it from the fawning the administration gives to the US President. The reward is the yearly glee to be photographed in the G7 white league. Real or imaginary, the China threat requires protection money to be paid to the Americans. Everytime that is cranked up, more money needs to be paid. But nevermind, you can always keep printing money, borrow in your kids name to fund the present life. Japan will never get rid of its peace constitution. It won't be allowed since it is so profitable to keep it.

Pointless. Communist authoritarian states whose ultimate strategy is global dominance through self-sufficiency tend not to make the best partners. LOL.

But, "self-sufficiency" has been sought and most stressed by Putin. Now his country is in serious trouble.

A reality is that the Chinese economy is also heavily dependent on the West.

Ahhh yes diplomacy with the communist menace. What could possibly go wrong?

A reality is that the Chinese economy is also heavily dependent on the West.

This is inaccurate. China's export economy is 18.5% of China's gdp and that is with the whole world and not just the West. Hardly "heavily dependent."

If you stopped all trade with the U.S. it is only 3% of the gdp.

Percentage of China's GDP /Top 5 Trading Nations

US - 3%

Hong Kong - 2%

Japan - 1%

Korea - 0.8%

In the top 5 of trading nations, 80% are Asian nations.

source: USTR, World Bank

Japan will never get rid of its peace constitution. It won't be allowed since it is so profitable to keep it.

No, the US will never allow this.

 Communist authoritarian states whose ultimate strategy is global dominance

Global dominance and ambition is found in all systems. That's like saying these Communists companies' ultimate strategy is to make money.

Russia tried democracy after the fall of the Soviet Union. It didn’t turn out well, did it?

China tried democracy in 1912. It didn’t turn out well.

India tried democracy in 1947 when it became independent. It didn’t turn out well.

Democracy in Brazil, Hungary, Turkey, Venezuela, etc. have degenerated into illiberal democracy, effectively dictatorship.

Stability, security, and prosperity and the system don't correlate.

Seeks a controversial 3 term as leader

As Xi is believed to maintain his helm of the ruling communist party

What on earth are they blathering about ?

Communist China isn't a democracy !

They can't just vote him out lmao !

Xi changed the law so he can remain in power as the leader of the Communist China !

There's no doubt Xi will continue to be leader !

They can't just vote him out lmao !

Xi is not the Secretary General and Chairman for life. There are democratic/meritocratic elements in the Chinese government. You are selected based on merit and achievement and then there is an election process.

He made changes so that there are no term limits but yes, they can vote him out and his third term is not a done deal.

It would be the equivalent if the POTUS removed the two term limit of eight years. That doesn't mean the President is in office for life.

I am sincerely intrigued by the purpose of this new strategy team, for me Japan has had a straight line policy against China with very few changes for a long time, in a way this is because Japan lacks free room to move, it can only assume a fixed position between China and the US.

We can now concentrate on observing China's movements

Well...at least they admit they weren't paying attention .

Always too slow to address any problems anyway .

Dither dawdle

Japan playing it smart. The above comments and noise dissing America at any chance is the usual stuff, nothing ever new there, but Japan will do what Japan always does best. Be in bed with everyone and no one at the same time, play off all sides, without buying too much into the emotional tripe on offer by hawks from either sides. Conflict averse. Free trade and a plethora of exchanges in its stead, soft power.

By safely securing its place under the security umbrella while at the same time trying to navigate and shape trade deals Japan can offer counterbalances and stability to the region. I know many readers hate to hear where Japan gets things right, but watch this space over the next few years. Of course it’s near impossible to talk to noise, but I’m sure people in actual positions of power and influences have a calmer and more sophisticated way about them, and the back channels of diplomacy know the utility of cooperation and compromise.

In the meantime, us part time political hobbyists can keep throwing sand and sticks at each other ‘till our hearts content! Japan being a nation of pretty much apolitical people too may just be what the doctor was looking for. Imagine being part of the generation that actually works this out!

@quercetum

His third term isn't a done deal

The third term is definitely a done deal !

You will see !

Take a look at his list of honors .

Japan has lived in the shadow of China's might and civilization for 1,500+ years. Of course Japan is putting some of its sharpest minds on the challenge of managing this important relationship. Xi might get one more term, but he won't be in charge forever, and after his passing, hopefully there is another round of Chinese liberalization.

difficult to say if Xi will get another term after how the zero covid strategy is playing out and its impact on the economy and the millions of migrant workers... i think Japan has to be prepared for this and perhaps relations with the 2 nations can improve with a new chinese leader...

You surely very well know, that Japan cannot at all determine the kind of relationship to China completely by itself. A healthy mix of stringent rivalry with the regime there and friendly cooperation with the normal people there when it’s about solving bigger issues or global problems, that would be the wishful way, but that’s surely not discussed or finally decided here.

All those frozen foods, all those electronics, all those apparels, all those instruments-equipment, machines, Daiso, etc etc.. most of them says Made-in-China. I don't know why I feel like govt policy is going south while company policies goes north.

@quercetum

What's inaccurate is Russia isn't in your list of China's largest trading partners.

RodneyToday 07:28 am JST

How about just trade with them and get rich

Who said no trade with China? Ever heard of RCEP?

Ricky Kaminski 13:

Very good summary of the way Japan works, with the soft, quiet, but very determined diplomacy doing all the heavy-lifting unseen in the background.

Japan has to navigate its' way in the world despite having the 3 worst possible leaders as its' neighbours in Xi, Putin, and Kim. Worst thing is it's hard to imagine any changing of the guard with these dictators anytime soon.

What's inaccurate is Russia isn't in your list of China's largest trading partners.

I listed exports because the statement was that the economy “heavily depended” on the West which is not true Russia isn’t in the top 5.

quercetumToday  09:46 am JST

Japan will never get rid of its peace constitution. It won't be allowed since it is so profitable to keep it.

No, the US will never allow this.

LOL. The US literally forced Japan to create the JSDF when the Korean War broke out. The US has applied continuous pressure on Japan to increase their military capabilities and participation in US lead coalition actions, most of which Japan has declined using it's Article 9 as an excuse. The US, as well as UK and Australia support Japan "normalizing" it's military.

Martimurano@ thanks very much. Have seen enough to believe Japan can rise to the occasion. Shinjitemasu, despite all the noise!

What on earth are they blathering about ?

Communist China isn't a democracy !

They can't just vote him out lmao !

Xi changed the law so he can remain in power as the leader of the Communist China !

There's no doubt Xi will continue to be leader !

Well, while Xi Jinping does not stand for popular election as leaders and legislators in democratic nations do, he still must be elected by members of the party at a party congress to another term as General Secretary of the CCP and President of the PRC. The CCP is not monolithic. It is controlled by factions and Xi has managed to make enemies in most of the factions except his own. The three most powerful party factions outside of his own are those of the Shanghai faction, the Communist Youth League faction and the PLA. All three detest Xi and want him out. Two of these factions even staged failed coup attempts to try to get rid of Xi. Whether or not they will prevail in ousting him at the next party congress this coming October remains to be seen, but is a strong possibility. His policies across the board have angered much of the CCP and turned them against Xi. The party congress this October might be the last chance to depose him before he can become another Mao and run China into the ditch like Mao did. His open admiration for Mao and his imitating aspects of Mao's persona, such as having him addressed as "Chairman", the use of Zhongshan suits for important public appearances, his preference for state owned industries over private enterprise and his requirements for party members at all levels to sit through monthly indoctrination sessions has much of the party fearing a return to the bad old days of Mao and the brutality of the Cultural Revolution. Xi has enemies and there is a chance that disputes in that party congress may spill out into the street.

@deanzaZZR

Japan has lived in the shadow of China's might for 1,500+ years

Correction -

Japan has lived in the shadow of China's might for 5000 yrs !

@DesertTortoise

That's all very interesting

However i think you will find that Xi will definitely be in for another term.