Japan, the U.S. and China

Japan, the U.S. and China all have tremendous influence on East Asian peace and economic development. This is why it is very important for the three to build a stable relationship of mutual trust. But how exactly should such a relationship be, and what should Japan do to realize it? The U.S. is the world's only superpower, and China has the potential to develop into one.

So, how should Japan deal with these powers? To strengthen our ties with China and the U.S. and help them build a stable relationship, we need a clear foreign policy and to be able to manage our own policy. Unfortunately, we are now unable to do either. And we hear next to no debate on what relationship Japan should form with China over the long term.

All we hear is the hysterical, irrational claim that China is a potential threat to Japan. The U.S. is our ally and China is our neighbor. We should not be thinking in terms of "either the U.S. or China", but of both the U.S. and China.

-- Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo