Good China-Japan ties benefit both

The world is undergoing profound changes, marked by the strategic competition between China and the United States, while the Russia-Ukraine conflict has increased uncertainties. As a result, the global economic recovery is still foundering.

Given these facts and the changes in the global political, economic and security landscapes, China and Japan need to jointly address complicated issues. Hence, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi's visit to China last week, the first by a Japanese minister to China in more than three years, raised a lot of hope. In fact, as this year marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Hayashi's visit was expected to help improve Sino-Japanese relations.

Indeed, Hayashi's visit to China sent a positive message to the world that China and Japan will enhance communication and work together to stabilize bilateral ties and create more development opportunities.

First, during Hayashi's visit, the two sides agreed to implement the important consensuses reached by the leaders of the two countries, and abide by the four political documents signed by Japan and China.

The five-point common understanding on stabilizing and developing bilateral ties reached by the Chinese and Japanese governments last year reflects the two sides' wish to maintain stable ties and develop a bilateral relationship that fits the new era.

Second, China and Japan reached an agreement to strengthen exchanges and communication. One day before Hayashi's visit, the Ministry of National Defense announced that the two countries have established a direct telephone line under the defense department's maritime and aviation liaison system, which will strengthen both sides' ability to manage maritime and aviation emergencies, and help maintain peace and stability in the region.

As important neighbors, the two countries can improve and stabilize relations only by communicating with each other and holding dialogue regularly, deepening mutual understanding and trust, and defusing tensions.

Third, China and Japan should also enhance mutually beneficial cooperation. Both countries are economic powerhouses and each other's important trading partners, with their total trade being worth $357 billion. And the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the possible signing of a free trade agreement among China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, and the promotion of regional cooperation will help deepen economic cooperation between China and Japan.

However, China and Japan still need to address some important issues to develop bilateral ties that suit the new era. For example, they are not on the same page when it comes to historical issues, the Taiwan question and territorial disputes. Tokyo should squarely face its militaristic past, reflect on its historical mistakes and apologize to the victims of Japanese aggression before and during World War II.

More important, Japan needs to realize that the Taiwan question is China's internal affair, and the Diaoyu Islands are China's inherent territory. It has to abide by the principles enshrined in the four political documents the two sides signed, respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and prevent Japan's younger generations from stirring up trouble on related issues.

Besides, Japan's policy of following the United States' strategy to contain China has hindered the healthy development of bilateral ties. Japan has also been seeking to sign a defense pact with the US and the Philippines and deploy a surface-to-air guided missile unit on Yonaguni, a remote island in the southwestern part of the country about 110 kilometers from the Taiwan island, in order to curb Beijing's naval operations in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Straits.

Besides, on March 31, Japan said it will restrict the export of 23 types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, aligning its technology trade controls with the US' with the aim of preventing China from making advanced chips. Japan should adopt independent diplomatic policies instead of blindly following the US if it wants to improve relations with China.

If Japan wants to be an important player on the global stage, it cannot instigate confrontation with, or stir up troubles for, other countries. Instead, it should cooperate with other countries to help build a community with a shared future for mankind.

However, Japan has approved three defense documents — the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Program Guidelines and the Mid-Term Defense Program — and increased its military budget ostensibly to accelerate its militarization by hyping up the "China threat" theory in recent years. Japan's growing military strength and goal of ultimately abandoning its defense-oriented policy is a source of serious concern for China and other Asian countries that suffered the atrocities committed by the Imperial Japanese Army before and during World War II. Hence, Japan should adhere to the path of peaceful development to avoid repeating past tragedies.

As neighbors, China and Japan will both gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. So they should overcome difficulties to achieve new breakthroughs in bilateral ties. Japan also needs to handle historical and current problems properly, honor its promises and build friendship with its neighbors to the benefit of the East Asia region and beyond.

In fact, China and Japan should meet each other halfway to promote friendly bilateral relations, and make greater contributions to the prosperity and stabilization of Asia and the world.

Yin Xiaoliang is a professor at the Institute of Japanese Studies, Nankai University; and Zhang Jiayu is a PhD candidate at the same institute. The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.