Japan and China on Sunday marked the 40th anniversary of the signing of a treaty of peace and friendship between the two countries amid a period of warming ties and a changing dynamic in bilateral relations due to Beijing becoming a superpower.

Recently, China has been apparently attempting to bolster its political clout abroad on the back of its increasing economic and military might in a bid to snatch the "hegemony" enjoyed by the U.S. in the Asia-Pacific region, Japanese government officials say.

Although Tokyo has been seeking to boost ties with Beijing for regional stability, some diplomats warn that China is likely to start trying to drive a wedge into the Japan-U.S. alliance, which has great influence in the economic and security fields in Asia.