Abstract: With completion of the Okinawa negotiations between Japan and the United States and the easing of SinoUS relations, Satōs cabinet began to adjust its policy toward China, intending to achieve the strategic goal of “resuming diplomatic relationship with China”. However, Satōs cabinet can not break the shackles of the United States, and also refused to change the wrong policy about Taiwan, which led to the failure of his policy adjustment and also signified the complete failure of the Japanese principle of “Separation between Politics and Economy”. Under the historical background of the normalization of SinoJapanese diplomatic relations, Satōs failure made the Japanese public understand Chinas adherence to the principle of resumption of diplomatic relations. Besides, its policy adjustment objectively eased the tension between China and Japan, and recovered bilateral relations partly.

Key words: Satō's cabinet, policy toward China, rapprochement