Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s Beijing tour in October of 2018 went well. It is not just the first time a Japanese prime minister has returned to Beijing in 8 years. The significance is that after years of lingering tensions over the Diaoyu/Senkaku territorial fracture, the two sides are ultimately and realistically seeking a new phase of improvement in Sino-Japanese relations. The recent two years have been special in the timeline of these relations – 2017 was the 45th anniversary of Sino-Japanese normalization of diplomatic relations, and this year is the 40th anniversary of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Along with marking these two memorable events, several signals of reconciliation have appeared, especially after mid-2017. Positive interactions, including increasing high-level reciprocal visits, expanding dialogue at different levels, and more actively communicating in various fields, reflect a benign tendency in Sino-Japanese relations. To people concerned about the prospects of the relationship, it is necessary to understand the motivations behind the recent reconciliation from both Chinese and Japanese perspectives. How long can such a warming-up proceed? To what extent will this bilateral relationship be improved? Historical problems, territorial disputes, strategic considerations, and many other significant issues have always been barriers between these two countries, keeping them from reaching a sincere and comprehensive reconciliation. Although a variety of indications boost the confidence of both sides, China-Japan relations in the future still need to be prudently considered and treated.

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