Prudent China-Japan relations

On the 40th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic ties, the two sides should maintain the relationship in a prudent way, in words of Confucius that " one should be no longer confused by the age of 40."

One is that the political elite and intellectuals in their respective countries need to abandon their rigid thinking, which is to impose their values, models on others, as well as the narrow view of "one nation can't have two queens."

Japan is Asia's largest developed country, and China is the world's largest developing country. The former needs to further thrive, while the latter is making big strides. To strive is the last word for Japan, as to develop is for China. To achieve the target of development, we have to work hard and behave reasonably. The two powers, though at different stages of development, are on the same track of sustainable development, which means they can only walk in the same direction rather than make a head-on collision. If the developed always wants to curb the developing and prevent all others from flourishing, it will only ask for trouble. Likewise, if the developing always acts angrily against the other, it will only add to its problems. We must abandon the Cold War thinking and look at each other's development objectively and rationally. The developed needs to keep an open mind, and the developing should stick to peaceful and scientific development. There is only one Earth. And Asia should be a family. Competition is inevitable as both pursue progress. But they should cooperate with each other, too. Growth is achieved through cooperation, and the edge is obtained in competition. Competition is not taking the chestnut out of the fire amid various turbulence and geopolitical conflicts. It is not relying on the illusion that the United States could one day return to the Asia-Pacific region to curb China's development. It is not harboring the Cold War thinking or even engaging in another battle. Only peace can lead to harmonious development and create mutual benefits. Both sides should endeavor to broaden, then deepen, the "conjunction point of interests" in different areas and levels and to build a community of interests.

Japan rose to power 100 years ago, adhering to the "off Asia for Europe" route proposed by Fukuzawa Yukich, who said in his article Leaving Asia Theory that "Japan should get away from its Asian neighbors and join the Western civilized countries. We don't need to express sympathies to China and Korea for being their neighbor. We just treat them like the West does. We may be influenced in intimacy with bad friends, so we should resist the bad Asian friends from within." The theory sounded a bit sensible then for Japan not siding with China's corrupted government of the Qing Dynasty. But it also catalyzed the birth of imperialist consciousness in Japan. In today's Japan, if there is anyone who sees China as "a bad Asian friend," he is looking down on China and other Asian countries and the world trend. China has become the world's second largest and Asia's largest economy. Its mainstream economists generally believe China's economic growth rate to stay over 7 percent in the next 20 years. The 21st century is the century of Asia and the Pacific, with Asia's contribution to global economic growth exceeding 45 percent in 2010. The Asia and Pacific region has a huge population and market, the ability to create and master a variety of advanced technologies, and is the most active area economically in the world. Insightful people in Japan have been calling for a development route change from the 150-year-old Asia-for-Europe to attaching great importance to Asia (according to Kenichi Matsumoto, special adviser to Japan's Cabinet), and return to Asia with the goal of rebuilding and further development. The sensible voices have been heard much at the Beijing-Tokyo forum. Mr Zeng Peiyan pointed out at the opening ceremony that China and Japan account for 60 percent of Asia's economy aggregate. We should seize the opportunity in Asia for China, Japan, and for Asia and the world.

For a country of 1.3 billion people, China inevitably needs to develop itself. Why will China embark on a peaceful development road and not threaten other countries' development? Because the Chinese people have been peace-loving, and more important, they know the value of peace and the urgency of development after enduring chaos caused by war and poverty. The modernization of China is the modernization of one-fifth of the world population. So it is going to have a big impact.

Its 1.3 billion people can be a denominator that reduces all accomplishments, it can also be a numerator that broadens the scope of many problems. We should focus on promoting modernization and resolving problems in development and in society. Even if China becomes powerful in the future, peace will remain as the premise of development. We have no reason to sway from the road of peaceful development. To stick to the road is decided by an inner need, basic national conditions and cultural customs. It is based on national interests, long-term benefits, development trends and objective laws. It is an undeviating choice. It is not for persuading, flattering, deceiving or fearing anyone.

China chooses the road of peaceful development and peaceful rise. This follows the current world situation and objective law. The Cold War has been over for nearly 20 years. The history of Cold War profoundly reveals the economic and social development law. Socialism can be established in a less developed country but cannot sustain in undervelopment. The advantage of socialism should be evaluated not only from the perspective of ideology but also the perspective of productive forces development level. The development of major powers is mostly related to the large demand for non-renewable resources such as coal and oil. In the process of their rise, this demand was met often by use of military force, occupying others' land as well as enslaving other people. Because of this, some people believe that a strong power is bound to seek hegemony. China's development must avoid this pattern and of course is impossible to follow this pattern.

China is developing in a new and peaceful way that is different from the rise of other powers. It mainly develops on its own and focuses on domestic demand. Meanwhile, China sticks to a multi-level, all-around wide-ranging opening-up policy, keeps its eyes on both the domestic and international market. China coordinates its development with that of the whole world and follows the trend of globalization to reach a sustainable win-win development with other countries. The socialism that China sticks to is not the one that acted as the opponent of Western countries during the Cold War. China's socialism complies with the trend of economic development and integrates itself into the world market system. In the process of globalization and multi-polarization, China, with its socialism, is committed to finding more common interests with other countries and building a community of interests. In this way, China could achieve peaceful external development and promote world peace with its own development.

Second, there should be more cultural connections and exchanges between the peoples. This is helpful for statesmen to calm down their minds and have long-term, rational perspectives. It could also help them avoid misjudging the situation or being too emotional.

China-Japan relations: 2,000 years of friendship and 50 years of hostility

In terms of the 50 years of hostility, we should learn a lesson from it. Former Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda once said that: "Only after having the courage and wisdom of looking back on your wrong in the past, could you expect not making mistakes in the future." Not forgetting history doesn't mean continuing the hatred but learning a lesson from the past to create a better future.

The 2,000 years of friendship is the unique advantage of China-Japan ties. Such a long history of bilateral relations is very rare in the world. Our two countries share many common things culturally. It influences our values and also promotes our exchanges. This is the difference between China-Japan ties and China's relations with Western countries. Our two countries have a long history of respecting and learning from each other. For example, our Buddhist exchanges were restricted by politics in history but always overcame obstacles. Many great people and organizations also have contributed to the development of our bilateral relations.

Every time our bilateral ties had some troubles, the power of culture and people could play a critical role to help overcome difficulties. There is a belief that there must be something in common between our two countries.

Third, although the statesmen and ordinary people of the two countries are rational, there are indeed some people with radical thinking to stir up trouble, exaggerate misunderstandings or even incite hatred to destroy our relations. So the top priority is to be vigilant against the spread of extremism.

In the world today, extremism is easily stemmed. Though peace and development remain the mainstream of the era, contradictions and conflicts among different nations, ethnic groups and religions surface from time to time. Over the past century, as Western culture expanded globally, egocentrism and West-centered thoughts surged, as did the ideas standing opposite to those trends. Terrorism and unilateralism, or hegemonism, remain the two extremes in those disputes. The common core of the two is egocentrism, or sole obedience of other sides to one overwhelming super power.

Under the world situation today, extremism is also easily developed. Due to the global economic downturn and constant crises, especially against the background of high unemployment rates in industrialized countries, the psychology of those nations remain fragile, nationalism is likely to be stirred up from the influence of extremism and an unconscious and shortsighted public upsurge can be easily instigated. And in order to get votes, politicians are also easily controlled, even kidnapped by extremists and make irrational policies and actions, sometimes to the extent of spreading the crises and making the situation worse, even the occurrence of unpredictable disasters.

Extremism is an intolerant, detached, selfish and unscrupulous outlook of the world that employs strong propaganda. Its ultimate result is terrorism. Presently, extremism is reviving, growing and expanding in many countries and regions of the world. The major danger in China-Japan relations lies in the provocation and instigation of right-wing extremists. We have to remain highly alert and prevent possible disasters. Otherwise, just as a Japanese proverb goes, the two countries will not "be biting its tail with its own teeth like a dog, but teased by the tail."

The author is Secretary of the CPC Committee at the Central Institute of Socialism. This is the statement by Ye at the eighth Beijing-Tokyo Forum.