China to keep wary watch on Abe’s push to change pacifist constitution
Despite warming ties under Japanese leader, sticking points remain between the two countries, analysts say
The big electoral win on the weekend for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party will give a short-term boost to ties with China but Beijing will keep a wary eye on any moves in Tokyo to alter the pacifist constitution.
Before the election, Abe made friendly overtures to China including a rare appearance at a Chinese embassy event last month to celebrate China’s national day.
But a day after the LDP and a small coalition partner secured at least 312 of the 465 seats in Japan’s lower house, Abe signalled a push to revise the US-drafted constitution.
Diplomatic observers said that despite warming ties, tensions remained between the two countries.
Huang Dahui, director of Renmin University’s Centre of East Asia Studies, said there was a difference in national interests between the two countries.
“Japan’s national interests are totally different from China’s. To [Japan] improving relations means restoring high-level communication. [But] Japan will not make any concessions regarding the Diaoyu Islands and its leaders will not stop visiting the Yasukuni Shrine. These are Beijing’s major concerns,” Huang said. “So, the stumbling blocks for relations will still exist and last a long time.”