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International Relations of the Asia-Pacific
China's Changing Images of Japan, 1989-2001: The Struggle to Balance Partnership and Rivalry
by Gilbert Rozman
Abstract
Chinese views of Japan, both official and popular, grew more negative after the end of the cold war. From 1989 to 1993 the Japanese side bears much of the blame for failing to overcome the distrust of the Chinese people. When the major deterioration in Japan's image occurred from 1994 to 1998, however, it was China's leadership that was chiefly responsible, arousing nationalist emotions. When China's leaders sought to reverse this process from 1999 to 2001 they were unsuccessful both because of the intensity of public emotions and the lack of reassurance from the Japanese leadership and public. Divisions inside China reveal the hesitation of leaders to foster a realistic image of Japan. By tracing the content of changing Chinese perceptions, we can observe the effects of overconfidence and insensitivity in each state and recognize the difficulty at times of uncertain national identity of finding a coordinated strategy for expanding mutual trust.