A Study of Security Cooperation Dilemmas and Pathways in Sino-Japanese Relations from A Constructivist Perspective

Abstract

Regional integration in East Asia has become one of the focal points of international politics since the end of the Cold War. Discussions on East Asian regional integration has predominantly centered around rationalist perspectives, emphasizing the maximization of national interests, which may not be conducive to achieving integration in the region. Given the complex historical issues such as national sentiments intertwined in East Asia, emphasizing the construction of shared ideas and identity through constructivist theories aligns more with the practical requirements of regional integration. Therefore, this paper takes cooperation in the security domain between China and Japan as an example to discuss and analyze the reasons for the dilemmas facing East Asian regional integration. These dilemmas primarily include Japan's uncertainty regarding collective identity, inevitable competition between China and Japan, and the disruptive influence of external great power intervention on collective identity. The paper proposes a three-phase approach for the future: strengthening Japan's East Asian identity, actively constructing cooperation between China and Japan, and resisting external interference. This approach aims to progressively build collective identity in the East Asian region and promote the smooth advancement of East Asian regional integration.