Through the Lens of Memory: Reviewing China’s Japan Policy: Learning from the Past
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Author | Dr. Amrita Jash |
| Title | China’s Japan Policy: Learning from the Past |
| Publisher | Palgrave Macmillan, Springer Nature |
| First Edition | 2023 |
| Second Edition | 2024 |
| Place of Publication | Palgrave Macmillan Cham, Switzerland |
| Series | Palgrave Studies in Asia-Pacific Political Economy |
| Pages | 325 |
| Hardcover ISBN | 978-3-031-44816-4 |
| eBook ISBN | 978-3-031-44817-1 |
| DOI | 10.1007/978-3-031-44817-1 |
| Language | English |
| Subjects | International Relations, Chinese Foreign Policy, Sino-Japanese Relations, Constructivism, Historical Memory |
| Identifiers | OCLC Number: 1406399181 |
| SpringerLink URL | https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-44817-1 |
Dr. Amrita Jash’s China’s Japan Policy: Learning from the Past, published in 2023 by Palgrave Macmillan Cham, offers a nuanced exploration of how historical memory shapes China’s foreign policy toward Japan, providing a fresh perspective on Sino-Japanese relations in the twenty-first century. Jash, an Assistant Professor at the Department of Geopolitics and International Relations at Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India, brings her expertise in Chinese studies, honed through a Ph.D. from Jawaharlal Nehru University and a fellowship at the University of Cambridge, to deliver a meticulously researched work. The book delves into the cognitive frameworks that drive China’s behavior toward Japan, emphasizing the role of historical grievances as mental shortcuts that influence policy decisions. By moving beyond traditional realist and liberal interpretations of international relations, Jash proposes a constructivist lens that foregrounds perceptions and collective memory, offering a compelling analysis of a relationship marked by deep economic ties and persistent political tensions. This review examines the book’s core arguments, thematic structure, scholarly contributions, and relevance to contemporary Sino-Japanese relations, while critically assessing its strengths and limitations and comparing it to related works. It concludes with reflections on its significance for researchers, students, and policymakers engaged in East Asian geopolitics.
The central thesis of China’s Japan Policy is that China’s foreign policy toward Japan is deeply rooted in historical memory, particularly the traumas of Japan’s imperial aggression during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, including the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895) and the Second Sino-Japanese War (1931–1945). Jash argues that these memories, reinforced through state-led narratives like China’s patriotic education campaigns, create a “fear of the revival of Japanese militarism” that shapes Beijing’s strategic perceptions and policy behavior. This cognitive framework, she contends, transcends material interests and power dynamics typically emphasized in realist and liberal theories, offering a more nuanced understanding of why Sino-Japanese relations remain fraught despite robust economic interdependence, with bilateral trade reaching $266.4 billion in 2023. The book posits that China’s policy decisions are not solely driven by rational calculations of power or economic gain but by deeply ingrained historical perceptions that cast Japan as a historical aggressor, influencing Beijing’s approach to issues like the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands dispute and Japan’s military normalization.
The book’s thematic structure revolves around the interplay of historical memory, public opinion, and foreign policy behavior, organized across several key chapters. The introductory chapter outlines the main thesis, emphasizing the significance of historical memory in interpreting China’s political dynamics toward Japan. It sets the stage for a cognitive approach, arguing that China’s behavior is driven by “mental shortcuts” rooted in past humiliations. Subsequent chapters explore specific dimensions of this framework. One chapter examines the role of historical memory in shaping Chinese public perceptions of Japan, drawing on sources like state media, official documents, and public opinion surveys to illustrate how events like the Nanjing Massacre are leveraged to sustain anti-Japanese sentiment. Another chapter analyzes how these perceptions translate into policy actions, such as China’s assertive stance in territorial disputes and its criticism of Japan’s defense policies, including the 2022 National Security Strategy, which labels China as Japan’s “biggest strategic challenge.” Jash also dedicates a chapter to the impact of public opinion, highlighting how state-sponsored narratives amplify nationalist sentiments, as seen in the 2005 anti-Japanese protests in China. The book concludes by situating these dynamics within the broader context of the Beijing-Tokyo-Washington strategic triangle, arguing that China’s Japan policy is also influenced by its rivalry with the United States and Japan’s alliance with Washington.
Jash’s scholarly contributions are significant, particularly in her application of a constructivist lens to Sino-Japanese relations. By focusing on the role of perceptions and identity, she challenges the dominance of realist and liberal paradigms that prioritize material capabilities and economic interdependence. Her emphasis on historical memory aligns with works like Zheng Wang’s Never Forget National Humiliation (2012), which explores how historical narratives shape Chinese foreign policy more broadly. However, Jash’s focus on the specific bilateral context of Sino-Japanese relations adds granularity, offering a detailed examination of how events like Japan’s wartime atrocities and the Yasukuni Shrine controversies continue to fuel mistrust. Her use of primary sources, including Chinese official documents and Japanese parliamentary debates, enhances the book’s credibility, providing a rich empirical basis for her arguments. Additionally, Jash’s exploration of the Beijing-Tokyo-Washington triangle connects her analysis to broader geopolitical dynamics, making the book relevant to discussions of regional security and great power competition.
The book’s relevance to contemporary Sino-Japanese relations is undeniable. It provides a framework for understanding why tensions persist despite economic interdependence and periodic thaws, such as the temporary improvement in relations during the China-U.S. trade war under leaders Shinzo Abe and Xi Jinping. Jash’s analysis of China’s sensitivity to Japan’s military normalization, particularly Tokyo’s shift toward a more assertive defense posture since the 2010 Senkaku Islands incident, illuminates current policy debates. For instance, her discussion of China’s reaction to Japan’s 2023 Defense White Paper, which critiques Chinese actions as “incompatible with international law,” reveals the ongoing role of historical mistrust in shaping bilateral interactions. The book also contributes to international relations theory by bridging constructivism with foreign policy analysis, offering a model for studying how collective memory influences state behavior in other contexts, such as China-Korea or India-Pakistan relations.
Compared to similar works, China’s Japan Policy stands out for its focused constructivist approach but shares thematic overlap with Caroline Rose’s Sino-Japanese Relations: Facing the Past, Looking to the Future? (2005) and Michael Yahuda’s Sino-Japanese Relations after the Cold War (2014). Rose’s work similarly examines the “history issue” but focuses more on reconciliation efforts, such as the Sino-Japanese joint history research project, whereas Jash emphasizes the persistence of historical grievances in shaping policy. Yahuda’s book provides a broader historical overview of post-Cold War dynamics, contrasting with Jash’s narrower focus on cognitive frameworks. While both Rose and Yahuda incorporate realist and liberal perspectives, Jash’s constructivist lens offers a fresh angle, though it risks overemphasizing ideational factors at the expense of material ones, such as China’s economic leverage over Japan or Japan’s strategic alignment with the U.S.
The book’s strengths lie in its rigorous theoretical framework and empirical depth. Jash’s constructivist approach is well-executed, providing a clear analytical lens that avoids the determinism of structural realism. Her use of diverse sources, from Chinese state media to Japanese parliamentary records, grounds her arguments in concrete evidence, making the book a valuable resource for scholars. The focus on public opinion as a mediator between historical memory and policy behavior is particularly insightful, as it captures the interplay between state and society in China’s authoritarian context. However, the book has limitations. Its heavy reliance on historical memory as an explanatory factor can feel one-dimensional, potentially underplaying the role of strategic calculations or domestic political pressures. For example, China’s assertive Japan policy may also reflect Xi Jinping’s broader nationalist agenda rather than solely historical grievances. Additionally, the book could have engaged more with Japanese perspectives, as its primary focus on Chinese perceptions risks presenting a unilateral view of a bilateral relationship. The absence of a deeper comparative analysis with other regional rivalries also limits its theoretical generalizability.
For researchers, students, and policymakers, China’s Japan Policy is a critical resource. Researchers will appreciate its contribution to constructivist international relations theory and its detailed case study of Sino-Japanese dynamics. Students of East Asian studies will find its accessible prose and clear structure useful for understanding the historical and cognitive roots of regional tensions. Policymakers, particularly those engaged in diplomacy or regional security, will benefit from its insights into the perceptual barriers to Sino-Japanese reconciliation, especially as Japan’s military normalization and the U.S.-China rivalry continue to shape the region. The book’s emphasis on the Beijing-Tokyo-Washington triangle is particularly relevant for those navigating the complexities of U.S. alliances in Asia.
Overall, the book is a thoughtful and well-researched contribution to the study of Sino-Japanese relations. It succeeds in highlighting the enduring impact of historical memory on China’s foreign policy, offering a compelling alternative to traditional international relations paradigms. While its focus on cognitive factors occasionally overshadows other drivers of state behavior, its empirical richness and theoretical clarity make it a valuable addition to the field. The book is best suited for those with a foundational understanding of East Asian geopolitics, as its theoretical discussions and historical references may be dense for casual readers. Its significance lies in its ability to bridge historical analysis with contemporary policy challenges, making it essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of Sino-Japanese relations in an era of rising regional tensions. By illuminating the cognitive underpinnings of China’s Japan policy, Jash not only enriches our understanding of this critical bilateral relationship but also illustrates the broader role of memory in shaping international politics.
About the Reviewer
Chetna Gill is a seasoned journalist based in India, known for her insightful reporting and analytical depth across a broad spectrum of topics. Her work spans the fields of geopolitics, economics, science, and social affairs, where she consistently delivers nuanced perspectives on complex national and international developments. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to factual integrity, she brings clarity to issues that shape public discourse and policymaking.