Chinese and Japanese Other Recognition (Joint Discussion by Chinese and Japanese Scholars)

Author: Xie Shuguang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-03-10
Features: When discussing Sino-Japanese relations, people often use the principle of "seeking common ground while reserving differences" to promote stable and developing relations. It should be noted that the "common ground" and "differences" here refer to the value-based "big" and "small," rather than a description of the actual similarities and differences between China and Japan. In fact, if we look at the actual similarities and differences between China and Japan, there are not only "common ground" but also "great differences." If we underestimate or overlook the "great differences" between the two countries, it will be impossible to achieve a truly meaningful "common ground."
China and Japan share the same writing system and ethnic background, with a long history of friendly exchanges but also periods of military conflict. In particular, the invasion of China by Japanese militarism in modern times severely infringed upon the interests of the Chinese people and deeply wounded their sentiments. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, bilateral relations developed in a tortuous path and ultimately achieved normalization. However, as relations continued to evolve, discordant voices have persisted, and factors unfavorable to the development of bilateral relations have always existed. With changes in the international situation, certain discordances between China and Japan have become increasingly prominent. Although economic ties between the two countries have deepened and personnel exchanges have increased, misunderstandings between the peoples of the two countries have grown more severe, and events detrimental to the normal development of relations have occurred from time to time.
The reasons for this situation are complex. Many scholars from both China and Japan have explored this issue from various perspectives, attempting to explain the causes and find solutions. In this context, the Japan China Social Sciences Research Association's 2003 academic conference specifically chose the theme "China and Japan's Perception of Each Other." It invited scholars from both countries, such as Zhang Yunling, Hamashita Takeji, and Tani Hui, to conduct in-depth discussions on Sino-Japanese relations and related issues from the perspective of the "other." The aim was to better understand each other and oneself, thereby avoiding unfounded, baseless, and unrealistic perceptions in the process of thinking about bilateral relations, and to provide beneficial insights for the healthy development of China-Japan relations.