Zhang Yunling, a member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, suggested in an article in
World Affairs, a magazine on international relations, that China should play down its expectations for the Sino-Japanese relationship.
China has always sought to define the relation with Japan as special, different from any other diplomatic ties, according to Zhang. The pursuit of a so-called “ever-lasting friendship” may be problematic and misleading in the first place, he said. It’s better for the bilateral relation to be defined just as a normal one with conflicts and cooperation.
Mutually beneficial economic ties and a shared longing for peace are believed to be the two key stabilizers of Sino-Japan relations, according to Zhang. He believes more effort is needed to push for educational, cultural and personnel exchanges between the two countries. Given the changes that took place in the public opinions of both countries, Zhang suggested, greater efforts are needed to re-build people-to-people foundations.
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