Recently, China and Japan have witnessed a wave of political exchanges, marked by visits from senior members of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, its coalition partner, Komeito, and a group of cross-party parliamentary members.
At the heart of this trend lies growing concern over the United States’ trade policy, particularly the protectionist measures being advanced by US President Donald Trump.
In February, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba visited the US, offering a generous package of proposals aimed at strengthening bilateral ties. Despite his goodwill gestures, Ishiba’s efforts failed to soften Trump’s hardline stance on tariffs.
On April 2, Trump unveiled sweeping “reciprocal tariffs” against trade partners, imposing 24 percent tariffs on Japanese goods, though they were temporarily suspended for 90 days. On April 16, Japan’s top trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa traveled to Washington for his first round of tariff talks with the US in an attempt to defuse tensions. Due to the wide gap between the two sides, the first round yielded no substantive results.
To offset mounting tariff pressure from the US, Japan has moved to strengthen its engagement with China as a strategic counterbalance. The tariffs imposed by the Trump administration were not merely about trade issues; they were part of a broader push for Japan’s concessions on key matters such as its agricultural market access, the linking of the US-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security to trade negotiations and Japan’s alignment with the US’ technology containment strategy against China.
In this context, closer engagement with China reflects Japan’s attempt to strike a balance between China and the US, assert greater diplomatic autonomy and enhance its leverage in negotiations with the US.
Domestic political considerations also play a role. With Japan’s House of Councillors election scheduled for July, the Ishiba administration is eager to secure political stability. By easing the ongoing tariff pressure and seeking tangible foreign policy wins, the government aims to garner voter support and strengthen its hold on power.
Ultimately, Japan’s outreach to China reflects a pragmatic adjustment to shifting global dynamics. Faced with the challenges of unilateralism and protectionism, enhanced collaboration between China and Japan stands out as a rational and stabilizing choice, not only for the two countries but also for the broader international community.
The views are extracted from Ting Feng de Chan (meaning A Cicada Listening to the Wind) account and do not necessarily reflect those of facts.org.cn.
