Dreaming of a Different China: The Changing China Policy under the Democratic Party of Japan

Abstract

Over the course of the three periods of Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) rule, the features of the DPJs China policy gradually disappeared. Consistency with regard to strategy toward China was lacking within the party. During the Hatoyama regime, Japans China policy reflected the effort to develop ties with China while pursuing a more equal US-Japan alliance. The Kan regime returned to the LDPs traditional China policy, engaging China and developing a strong US-Japan alliance. The Noda regime went beyond the LDPs China policy, creating conflict with China and clinging to the strong US-Japan alliance. The policy directions of each of the DPJ regimes corresponded to perceptions to China: the Hatoyama regime perceived China as a beneficial partner, while the Kan and Noda regimes perceived China as a threat. Through these analyses, two implications are deduced. First, Japan and China each dreamed of a different China and this led to limitations in closer Sino-Japanese relations. The disparity in perceptions pertaining to the intentions of China led to conflicts. Given the fact that this situation is not hugely changed at the present time, the limits of further developing Sino-Japanese relations seem poised to remain for the near future. Second, the United States plays a significant role in Sino-Japanese relations. During the periods of DPJ rule, China demonstrated that it reacts assertively with respect to Japan when US-Japanese relations deteriorate.