News

Japanese boats driven away

Analysts warned that regional tensions could escalate and China-Japan ties will further deteriorate after Japanese nationalists entered the waters of the Diaoyu Islands and were driven out on Tuesday, their exit coming on the same day as a visit to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine by a large group of Japanese lawmakers.

Commentary

 Global Times

The Yasukuni Shrine visits are evidence of Japan's reluctance to accept reality. Japanese society is becoming increasingly radical, but continues to take a careful approach in maritime conflicts with China. 

Japan lacks a clear strategy in East Asia. Encountering China's rise, it hasn't formed a policy that helps it maximize its interests, and instead shows resentment and anxiety. Its alliance with the US cannot help it solve its own strategic dilemma.

China certainly hopes to develop friendly relations with Japan. But in recent years it has become increasingly difficult to achieve this goal. Perhaps confrontation between the two is inevitable, unless China exercises forbearance with a very broad strategic mind.

But this is not feasible in an era when national strategy is increasingly influenced by public opinion. No matter what insightful strategic intentions the government harbors, the Chinese public will not agree to a friendly approach to a nation that has left deep historical scars on China and still adopts very aggressive stances.

 Xinhua

While it is impossible for Japanese politicians to be ignorant of the fact that worshipping the Yasukuni Shrine touches on a sore spot for many Asian countries, some of them deliberately take the provocative move to harvest political gains.

For these politicians, their fondness of the shrine game, played often before or after key elections, exposes their political short-sightedness as such moves only help boost their domestic profile at the price of tarnishing Japan's national image abroad.

 Beijing Times

Japan entering the Diaoyu waters and visiting the Yasukuni Shrine are connected - both show that the mainstream Japanese society is becoming more conservative. 

Considering the consistent permissive attitude of the Japanese government, it just sees right-wing groups as no more than a pawn.  

Japan should realize that its so-called “values” and sense of history are alienating them in Asia and the world. 

 Haiwainet.cn, the site of People’s Daily Overseas Edition

There’s a “ghost” who refuses to face history lives in the heart of Japan. The nation has longed for a return to its former glory, but has yet to find the strength. That is because a country that denies its past invasions of other countries without regret and acts on its own accord cannot become strong.

 Beijing Youth Daily

This round of politicians visiting the Yasukuni Shrine will definitely dilute Japan’s credibility and insult surrounding nations, ultimately impacting Japan’s diplomatic strategy. 

Perhaps they believe the visit will help them politically, but what kind of future can a country expect when it breaks faith and takes action without considering its neighbors?
 
 Wenweipo

China has driven Japanese boats out of Diaoyu waters for the first time, revealing that China has already begun to claim sovereignty over the islands. The days of Japan exercising its will over Diaoyu will never return. By handling the sovereignty issue through various means and strong faith, China has the confidence to maintain the country’s core interests.