Abstract:Having the Abe administration forced the new security bill through in 2015,Japan’ security policy breaks the constitutional restriction and is undergoing an unprecedented transformation since the end of WWII. Japan’s new security legislation has removed the barrier for Japan in taking an active role in war and overseas military actions. In the context of the year 2015 marking the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII,the Abe administration,whose historical view has been widely criticized,works actively in order to offset the pressure from the international community. There has been some recovery in Sino-Japanese relations,with high-level dialogues and exchanges of all walks being gradually restored. However,obstacles still exist between China and Japan and the foundation for improving bilateral relations remains quite unstable. Competition and strategic gaming between China and Japan are intensifying on the regional and multi-lateral levels,with Japan having intervened in the disputes over South China Sea in a high profile and enhanced its “southwestern defense line”. Looking into the year 2016,Japan’s domestic and foreign affairs are directly driven by the election of the Senate,or the simultaneous election of the Senate and the House of Representatives. While faced with the rising pressure of restoring and developing economic ties with China,the Abe administration will keep a hard-line posture towards China over the issues concerning the East China Sea and the South China Sea. There are still broader prospects for Sino-Japanese cooperation,and its progress depends on the overall trend and circumstance of Sino-Japanese relations. Whether both sides can work together to manage and control disputes and promote pragmatic cooperation based on the stable bilateral exchanges will be vital for the long-term development of Sino-Japanese relations.
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