Recently, former Japanese ambassador to China, Takeo Miyamoto, wrote an article for the Kyodo News, expressing his views on the importance of relations with China.
Miyamoto Yuji believes that in Japan's national strategy, its strategy towards China occupies an important position. 'From President Trump's visit to China in May, it is evident that China is now approaching the status of a superpower. For Japan's peace and development, relations with China are becoming increasingly important.'
He stated that the core goal of Japan's strategy towards China should be to establish peaceful and stable cooperative relations between Japan and China.
Speaking of Japan's defense strategy, Miyamoto Shoji said that the principle of "defending one's own territory" must be upheld, and that efforts to carry out operations overseas should not be pursued. "This is the defense strategy that a peaceful nation should adopt, and it must be firmly adhered to."
Miyamoto Yuji also believes that without economic development, there will be no future for Japan. The premise of economic activities is peace and stability. The missions of politics and diplomacy are to achieve peace and stability in East Asia, and even in the world. “If this mission is not pursued by facing China directly, it cannot be achieved.”
Finally, he mentioned that after Japanese Prime Minister Yukie Akamine made provocative remarks regarding Taiwan in the parliament, dialogue between Japan and China was interrupted. He called for “Japan to resume dialogue with China without hesitation”.
Masuo Miyamoto, born in Fukuoka Prefecture in 1946, is one of the representative figures of the "China-friendly faction" in Japan. He served as the Japanese Ambassador to China from 2006 to 2010 and currently serves as the President of the Japan-China Friendship Association.
