Parallel lines can meet as was proved when Chinese President Xi Jinping met his Japanese counterpart, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the Apec summit in Beijing. It was a landmark event following two years of conflict over competing territorial claims. In view of the prolonged exploitation of China by Japanese imperialists during the 1930s-40s, the tie between the two countries has always been fragile and there has been a virtual cold war since 2012. The bone of contention is the ownership of a set of strategically significant but uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. The fear has persisted that an escalation into armed conflict might take place any time. In 2012, anti-Japan riots took place in China with Beijing’s sanction. Japanese cars and storefronts were destroyed. Last year Abe honoured the Japanese dead in World War II which China resented. Later, the Chinese ambassador to the UK attacked Japan. Japan retaliated.
The agreement between Xi and Abe has lessened the tension between the two countries to some extent. The two leaders have of course acknowledged that their countries have different perspectives on the sovereignty dispute. But it was felt that they should come close in other areas including building mechanisms to manage crises. The cordiality at the meeting seemed somewhat half-hearted. The standoff has not melted away. Competitive nationalist posturing still sours relations. Building mutual trust between the two countries will take time. India is interested in the eventuality with the promise of $ 30 billion from Japan and $ 20 billion from China. Amity between China and Japan is to India’s interest. US President Barack Obama who has close ties with Japan has taken the opportunity to welcome China’s economic rise.