The recent tension between China and Japan is not by accident, but represents the historic changes of mutual relations in the past 100 years. It is not only a crucial turning point that China has a dominant power in China-Japan relations when both countries are committed to becoming great powers, but also the new situation East Asia faces in 60 years after World War II. The conflicts between China and Japan are actually collisions at the turning point, which can be considered as the temporary tension that occurs in the formation of new China-Japan relations and East Asia order.

From the first Sino-Japanese War to World War II, Japan dominated the China-Japan relations. However, the dominant power has been transferred in the 60 years after World War II. From the founding of new China to the resumption of China-Japan diplomatic ties in 1972, China has been politically independent. The path and achievements of political development with Chinese characteristics shock Japan and provide a basis for China’s dominance in its relation with Japan. In the past 30 years of reform and opening up, China has overtaken Japan in economic aggregate, achieved dominance in the interdependent relation, taken lead in comprehensive national strength and international status, and been on the road to assume complete dominance in the China-Japan relations.

The twists and turns of China-Japan relations in the last 20 years, especially the recent tension, can be mainly attributed to the collision of appeals and paths of the two countries striving to become great powers.

First, China moves forward and Japan falls behind in economy. Influenced by economic recession, imbalance of political mentality and the traditional thought that a country is bound to seek hegemony when it becomes strong, Japan is suspicious of and vigilant against China, instead of promoting cooperation between the two countries.

Second, China progresses and Japan regresses politically. With the growing openness in politics and public participation, policies concerning diplomacy and China-Japan relations are increasingly restricted by public opinions. Meanwhile, the Japanese society is becoming more negative and conservative. Although the conservative tendency is reflected to extremes by a few people, the ethos it represents wins recognition and acquiescence in all circles of Japan and the Japanese media have shifted to rightism. Therefore, the request of “negative and conservative power” deeply rooted in Japan conflicts with China’s practice of “positive and open power”, which goes beyond the official, political and diplomatic scopes and severely damages people-to-people relations.

Japan attempts to deny the historical results of World War II and resumes militarization. China is its most dangerous and direct enemy in this process. Therefore, Japan defames China, creates the atmosphere of public opinion that China poses a threat against the U.S. and even presses U.S. to choose between rise of China and militarization of Japan. There are three intertwined aspects, that is, conflicts between China and Japan in efforts to become global powers, competition between China and the U.S. against the background of globalization, and the integration of the relations among China, Japan and the U.S. with global and regional development and peace. The tension between China and Japan will not last too long. We can neither be blinded by the temporary tension to ignore the overall situation, nor be too optimistic to relax our vigilance.

The wisdom of the older generation leaders can be summarized into the following four aspects: the idea of people-to-people diplomacy, the vision of general strategy, the wisdom of putting aside the differences, and the mind of embracing the future. Furthermore, the recent aggressive moves of Japan require us to have courage to face conflicts between two countries. The historical initiative, geographical inclusiveness, comprehensive national strength and courage to face conflicts qualify China to play a leading role in East Asia and the China-Japan relations. China has no alternative but to bear this responsibility.