Paradigm in Sino-Japanese ties

The prospects of Sino-Japanese relations have entered a broader trajectory because of Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's attitude and policy changes toward the United States and China ever since he came to power.

After the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) took over the reins of government from the Liberal Democratic Party, Tokyo has made unremitting efforts to change its past "dependency" status in its decades-long alliance with Washington and press its largest ally to "respect" Japanese people's aspirations for "independence and self-reliance".

The change in equation in US-Japan ties is expected to have a direct impact on the development of Sino-Japanese relations. However, the situation is not that optimistic given a string of Asian offensives recently made by US leaders from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to President Barack Obama. After taking office, Obama began to refocus US attention on the Asia-Pacific region. During his recent trip to Japan, the US president said he would be a "Pacific President", and reiterated during his maiden state visit to China the stance that Washington would not "contain" Beijing.