Japan and China will soon observe the 30th anniversary of their normalization of relations, which took place Sept. 29, 1972. The bilateral relationship was placed on a solid foundation with the conclusion of a treaty of peace and friendship in 1978. Economic relations have since dramatically expanded.
In the initial stages, the major theme of the bilateral relationship was "peace and friendship." Today, however, the two countries are concentrating on promoting more pragmatic cooperation.
Yet there are a number of uncertainties overshadowing Japan and China, such as differences in historical perceptions and political frictions over Taiwan. Moreover, as China increases its military might and deepens its economic influence in Southeast Asia, a growing number of Japanese have begun to regard China as a threat.