Focusing on the 'big picture'
Despite the momentum for China-Japan detente and the launch of a maritime and aerial communication mechanism, some observers believe such a relationship is still fragile, given unresolved disputes over the Diaoyu Islands and different views on some historical issues.
China and Japan still lack political and strategic trust as well as clear and feasible positioning of their relationship, according to Jin of the CIIS.
Picturing the future development of their complicated relations, he said the two neighbors can maintain smooth and stable ties in the near future, but "cooperation and friction will coexist" in the bilateral relations over a longer period.
Jiang Yuechun, director of the Department for World Economy and Development Studies at the CIIS, stressed that fragility in China-Japan relations cannot be denied. He urged Japan to fully understand China's core concerns and take China's core interests seriously.
Meanwhile, the two sides should focus on the "big picture" in their ties, avoid strategic misjudgment, and work together to seize the opportunities created by China's development, he added.
Former Japanese diplomat Kohara is more optimistic. "Any relationship between countries has both shared and conflicting interests," he wrote, noting that it is not unusual that Tokyo and Beijing have unresolved issues.
He suggested that the two countries should not "focus too much on a few sensitive pending issues," but instead should "increase fields where both countries can enjoy cooperative win-win relations."
"It is wise diplomacy to stabilize the relationship and develop mutually beneficial areas based on common strategic interests," Kohara stressed.
Encouragingly, this appears to be what is happening – at least for now.
