Shin Kawashima is a professor in the Department of International Relations at the University of Tokyo, where he specializes in modern Chinese diplomatic history.
While the United States and Japan share perceptions toward an increasingly assertive China, U.S.-Japan policy coordination vis-à-vis China is under strain.
Washington and Tokyo should remain in sync as they respond to China’s resurgence in various domains.
To preserve their shared values, the United States and Japan should closely watch how China views different aspects of the international order.
Washington and Tokyo are sending some conflicting signals regarding their policies toward China, bracing for strategic competition but also trying to strengthen cooperation in certain priority areas.
A continually rising and more assertive China presents both risks and opportunities for the international community. The United States and Japan approach China policy issues with many common views but often different priorities or diplomatic tools.
