China-Japan Relations

China's move appeared to be retaliation for “discriminatory entry measures” against Chinese travelers amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Japan and Germany rediscovered their geopolitical voice in 2022, making parallel efforts to develop more assertive national security postures. 

The Japanese prime minister held his first in-person meeting with China’s Xi Jinping, but he faces tight limits in how far he can push the relationship.

PLAN vessels have entered Japanese territorial waters eight times since 2004 – and five of those have occurred since October 2021.

Why the current issues in the relationship can be traced to the 1970s.

“Hot economics, cold politics” continues to underscore the China-Japan relationship. Even as political relations fray, economic ties have never been stronger.

Tensions are rising, and Japan needs to be innovative.

The visit from Japan’s national security chief come two weeks after China called off a foreign ministers’ meeting, citing Tokyo’s criticism of military drills near Taiwan.

Comparing the current crisis to the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis from 1995-96, Japan’s attitude toward China, the U.S., and other like-minded countries has changed significantly.

Much of the West is eulogizing the former Japanese prime minister. In China and South Korea, reactions are far less positive.

The late Japanese prime minister was not popular in China, but some have used his death to emphasize their frustration at being unable to speak freely.