The Ties That Divide

The cool-headed decision of China and Japan in the 1970s to shelve contentious issues such as Japan’s wartime record and the question of sovereignty over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands has been overturned. In its place, leaders and publics are indulging in nationalism and an inclination toward irrational or risky behaviour. Both nations have invested much more in their claims to the islands than is justified by their value or the costs of an open conflict over them. Neither the cultural and linguistic affinities between the two countries nor their economic interdependence preclude the possibility that the dispute over the islands could escalate and even lead to war. 

In this Adelphi William Choong argues that there is a pressing need for China and Japan to work out bilateral arrangements to prevent a further deterioration in relations. To identify such steps, he explores their disputes over historiography and territory, and how these are affected by their military postures, the US-Japanese alliance and the regional security architecture.

‘Relations between China and Japan are important to both states, but also to the rest of Asia and the wider world. There is a growing disconnect between economic ties, which are close, and political relations where trust is lacking. Economic interdependence does not guarantee peace, as the First World War showed, and the public in both states regards war as a possibility. Given these realities, this Adelphi book is both timely  and important. I agree with its thrust and its conclusion.’ Professor Tommy Koh, Ambassador-At-Large,  Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore

'This work by William Choong is an extraordinarily detailed and comprehensive account of historical and contemporary issues concerning Japan-China relations. He pertinently highlights the Senkaku/Diaoyu dispute in his analysis of the irrational, vicious cycle that mars the relationship.’ Professor Yoshihide Soeya, Professor of Political Science, Faculty of Law, Keio University, Tokyo