Japan must make concrete moves to improve relations

As Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a meeting with his Japanese counterpart on Sunday, ties between China and Japan are like a boat trying to make its way against the current, and the two countries need to overcome the turbulence and obstacles that stand in their way if they are to make any progress in improving their relations.

Certainly both sides have made a series of goodwill gestures recently indicating they would like to try and ameliorate relations, with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono's visit to China the latest of these. And coming so early in the year, his visit has been welcomed by China as a continuation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's stated willingness to engage with Beijing and increase communication and mutual trust.

Although there has been some resuscitation of engagement, including high-level contact at various international platforms and the resumption of dialogue and consultation in some areas, so far the momentum has not been strong enough to restore the vitality of ties attained before the Japanese government "nationalized" the Diaoyu Islands in 2012, an act that put an abrupt brake on the positive momentum that had been carefully cultivated.