Japanese Research

Japan's Diplomacy During the COVID-19 Epidemic and Its Characteristics and Influence

ZHOU Yong-sheng

2020, 34(5): 1-16. DOI: 10.14156/j.cnki.rbwtyj.2020.05.001

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After the largescale outbreak of the epidemic in China, Japan and some Western countries have dealt with them very differently, showing great care and sympathy for China, and vigorously supporting Chinas antiepidemic work. During the epidemic in the first half of 2020, conflicts between China and the United States intensified, and the Abe administration kept its distance from the United States in many aspects. With regard to the understanding and judgment of China, the Abe administration also has similarities or consistency with the judgment of the US government. The Abe governments hopes of revitalizing Japans economy rested on hosting the Olympics to boost the economy. Therefore, the Abe government took the initiative to protect the Olympics in the early stage, concealing the severity of the epidemic as much as possible. The largescale infection of the Diamond Princess passengers and crew is related to the questionable disposal policy of the Japanese government. The tragedy of the Diamond Princess passengers and crew infection has become a piece of history, but the lessons left are profound. During the COVID19 pandemic, the Abe administration attached great importance to the development of diplomacy with the United States and frequently launched JapanUS telephone diplomacy. At the same time, it also attaches importance to diplomacy with EU countries, South Korea and Russia. Under the epidemic, Japan has given full play to its diplomatic knowhow for spending small money and doing big things, and implementing specific drug assistance. The influence of Japanese diplomacy on the cooperation between the United States and the region is increasing, and it has also greatly enhanced and improved Japans international image.

A Preliminary Analysis on Japan and the SinoJapanese Relationship in the COVID19 Epidemic

HU Ling-yuan, LI Chao

2020, 34(5): 17-24. DOI: 10.14156/j.cnki.rbwtyj.2020.05.002

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The COVID-19 epidemic has had a major impact on Japan's society, economy, and politics. At the same time, due to the severity and global characteristics of this epidemic, Japan's international environment is also facing great uncertainties. Japan's response to the epidemic reflects a highly selfdisciplined society and its national characteristics, resulting in mixed effects though. The epidemic has also brought both opportunities and challenges to SinoJapanese relations. On the one hand, the mutual assistance in the early stages of the epidemic has greatly helped improve the feelings of the people of the two countries, which have been sluggish in recent years. The willingness to cooperate in nontraditional security fields like public health has increased, and the consensus on how to adjust and strengthen bilateral and regional economic and trade cooperation has gradually formed during and after the epidemic. At the same time, the structural contradiction between China and Japan has not been eliminated by the epidemic, and even appears as a negative factor in the epidemic. The continuous deterioration of Sino-US relations has added more uncertainty to Sino-Japanese relations for the postepidemic period. Generally speaking, the trend of improvement in Sino-Japanese relations in recent years has not changed its basic direction despite the epidemic. However, how to deal with the major adjustments of the US strategy towards China and how to use the epidemic as an opportunity to build a bilateral relationship that meets the requirements of the new era are questions both China and Japan need to seriously think about based on a high degree of political wisdom in this decisive moment of human history.

The Relationship Between the East and the West in the Post-COVID-19 Era and the Dilemma of Japan's Choice

LIAN De-gui

2020, 34(5): 25-32. DOI: 10.14156/j.cnki.rbwtyj.2020.05.003

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This paper analyzes Japan's diplomatic choice in the context of postCOVID-19 SinoUS relations from the perspective of East and West relations. Postepidemic Sino-US relations have increasingly shown the characteristics of the antagonistic relationship between the East and the West. The West has always had a strong sense of superiority over the East, and even often showed a hostile attitude. However, in this epidemic, the West did not perform well. The United States, the leading western country, is ineffective in governance,and was in chaos. To divert domestic discontent, the U.S.began to stigmatize China, leading to the deterioration of SinoUS relations. Under the background of the deterioration of Sino US relations, Japan is under pressure from the United States to take sides, and Sino-Japanese relations are facing a test. Japan's choice is essentially the choice between the East and the West,and it means that Japan's diplomacy is at a crossroad in history. What choice Japan will make deserves attention.

The Impact of COVID-19 on International Politics and China-Japan Relations

WU Huai-zhong

2020, 34(5): 33-42. DOI: 10.14156/j.cnki.rbwtyj.2020.05.004

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At present, the COVID-19 epidemic has an important impact on the international political situation and then, a complex impact on ChinaJapan relations. The epidemic has a positive and negative effect on the world situation and globalization. It has caused a major negative impact on the global hegemon, namely, the United States, and has complicated majorcountry relations and intensified geopolitical games. On the whole, these changes of macro environment have a significant negative impact on China-Japan relations. In the face of the epidemic, there are some shortterm positive factors for ChinaJapan relations. First of all, joint cooperation in fighting COVID19 and emergency response has partly improved the mutual understanding and national sentiment between China and Japan. Second, it has promoted closer cooperation between China and Japan to reinvigorate their economies, which have been hit hard by the epidemic. Third, China and Japan have increased consensus and mutual understanding on the international situation. But at the same time, the epidemic has disrupted exchanges between China and Japan at all levels, seriously disrupting the pace of warming relations between the two countries. In addition, the changes in Japan's strategy under the epidemic have caused frictions and setbacks in China-Japan relations. First of all, the adjustment of Japan's economic security policy has an impact on bilateral economic and trade relations. Secondly, the renewal of Japan's security and defense policy hinders the construction of a constructive security relationship between China and Japan. In this context, China and Japan should take the opportunity of COVID-19 cooperation to improve mutual understanding, promote global governance and regional cooperation, and deepen economic integration, and continue to write a new chapter in China-Japan relations in the new era.

An Analysis of Japan’s Military Strategy in the 2010s: Evolution and Motivation

CHEN You-jun，YU Di

2020, 34(5): 43-55. DOI: 10.14156/j.cnki.rbwtyj.2020.05.005

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Since 2010, Japan’s “National Defense Program Guidelines” has gone through three editions of amendment, and its main changes in contents can be reflected in the following aspects: emphasis on the threats from China; emphasis on multidimensional integrated defense upgrading from the defense concept; the strategic layout that combines traditional space including land, sea and air with new fields like space, cyberspace and electromagnetic waves based on the continuation of “one body and two wings” idea; more attention to strengthen the capabilities of SelfDefense Force. On the one hand, Japan’s goal is to achieve its “political power” strategy and meet the demands of domestic interest groups. On the other hand, the pressure exerted by the United States and the changes in global security environment have also forced Japan to make some adjustments. Under the guidance of National Defense Program Guidelines, Japan has adopted a series of measures, such as developing military forces while catering to the US strategy, vigorously rendering the Chinese threat theory, strengthening the “2+2” cooperation mechanism, promoting the constitutional amendment process, and conducting military exercises with other countries frequently, etc. Therefore, while giving full affirmation to the adaptability of Japan’s action, we should also be alert to the real motivation behind Japan’s frequent revision of National Defense Program Guidelines.

The Exploration, Experience and Lessons of Japan’s Opposition Party Think Tank Construction ——Taking the Democratic Partys Think Tank Construction as an Example

ZHANG Bo-yu

2020, 34(5): 56-70. DOI: 10.14156/j.cnki.rbwtyj.2020.05.006

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After the Democratic Party became the first opposition party in 1998, with a view to improve policymaking capabilities and reserve Democratic Party government policies, think tanks are regarded by the party as a tool that can be used to evolve toward a political party. The“think tank network concept” published in March 1999 became the basic indicator of the party’s think tank construction, and “the networking of think tanks, i.e., the creation of a think tank network” has become the basic direction of the party’s think tank construction. The Democratic Party must create its own policy system, information collection system and citizen policy participation system through the think tank network. After the exploration and practice of “Think Tank Network 21 Institute” and “Think Tank Network Center 21”, in 2005, a “public policy platform" named after the Democratic Party’s think tank was established. This paper aims to take the role of the Democratic Partys think tanks in power as a research perspective, summarize the experience and lessons of the Democratic Party’s think tank construction, and provide typical cases for the construction and development of party think tanks. Constructing think tanks is the right choice for the Democratic Party, which intends to seek power and lacks policy resources.Party think tanks must insist on its political nature of serving the interests of the party.In addition to policy support, think tanks also play a role in supplementing the lack of power and resources of the Democratic Party.Funds and talents are also important factors that restrict the development of party think tanks, but the development of party think tanks is more likely to be influenced by the political ideas of party leaders.

Japan’s South China Sea Policy from the Perspective of Indo-Pacific

ZHU Qingxiu

2020, 34(5): 71-80. DOI: 10.14156/j.cnki.rbwtyj.2020.05.007

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In recent years, under the guidance of the “Indo-Pacific Concept”, Japan’s actions in the South China Sea have been gradually upgraded. Japan’s strategic move to participate in the South China Sea dispute has actually become a concrete manifestation of Japan’s containment of China and the pursuit of the “Indo-Pacific Ocean Order” dominance. Japan’s South China Sea policy is becoming a key part of Japan’s “Indo-Pacific concept”, an important starting point for Japan to promote the diplomacy of major powers and strengthen maritime security cooperation with the United States, India, and Southeast Asian countries. Japan’s strong involvement in the South China Sea dispute not only interferes with the establishment of trust between China and ASEAN countries, but also increases the difficulty of China’s peaceful settlement of the South China Sea dispute, adding new obstacles to peace and stability in the South China Sea. In the postepidemic era, Japan will further intervene in the South China Sea dispute. As the process of consultation on the South China Sea Code of Conduct between China and ASEAN countries accelerates, Japan’s involvement in the South China Sea dispute will also speed up. Moreover, Japan’s involvement in the South China Sea dispute is showing a bad sign that Japan has listed the South China Sea dispute and the East China Sea issue as a contradiction that needs to be resolved between China and Japan. Japan’s positioning of the South China Sea dispute will exacerbate China-Japan strategic mutual suspicion. The establishment of Sino-Japanese relations in the new era creates new obstacles.

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