The Impact of China-Japan Economic Cooperation on Regional Security: A Case Study of the Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) to China

Abstract

The issuance of the China-Japan Joint Declaration in 1972 marked the beginning of reconciliation and exchanges between the two countries, and since then Sino-Japanese relations have continued to advance in twists and turns. The issue of territorial sovereignty, historical understanding and changes in relative strength in the political field of the two countries have all hindered the development of bilateral relations. However, the implementation of the China-Japan Joint Declaration has provided many new possibilities for exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, and the continuous development of economic relations between the two countries has promoted the improvement of bilateral relations and regional security. This paper finds that the Japanese official development assistance (ODA) to China initially brought China and Japan closer and promoted the improvement of regional security, but later due to the emergence of many problems, Japan's ODA policy was adjusted, making the role of the ODA in promoting bilateral relations and regional security disappear. Therefore, economic cooperation should not be affected by the issue of political mutual trust, and economic cooperation without political interference could be the best way to improve Sino-Japanese relations today.