by PETER LEE
Is the People’s Republic of China (PRC) trying to implode the Japanese economy? It is starting to look that way. The PRC has counterprogramed the US pivot to Asia – and US advantages in military and softpower – by leveraging its economic strengths.
When Japan kicked off this year’s edition of the Senkaku (Diaoyu) Follies with the national purchase of the uninhabited rocks, the PRC leadership responded by giving free rein to nationalist Nipponphobic demonstrations, boycotts, and occasional anti-Japanese thuggery – and then refused to allow relations to renormalize.
The PRC frequently reiterates a hardline position during the press conferences of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For instance, on November 19:
Q: Is there arrangement of meeting between the Chinese and Japanese leaders during the East Asian Leaders’ meetings? What is your comment on the prospect of Sino-Japanese relations?
A: As far as I know, there is no arrangement of Sino-Japanese bilateral meeting during the East Asian Leaders’ meetings.
On your second question, as is known to all, Japan’s illegal “purchase” of the Diaoyu Islands has led Sino-Japanese relations to the current difficult situation. Japan should bear full responsibility. China hopes the Japanese side will seriously reflect on and correct its mistakes, show sincerity and make concrete efforts to properly settle the current problems and push bilateral relations back to the normal track of development.
By this framing, “pushing bilateral relations back to the normal track of development” would involve the Japanese government publicly repudiating the island purchase.
That simply isn’t going to happen.
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