The China-Japan Relationship

The Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, recently concluded a three-day visit to China. According to the Los Angeles Times, such a visit “would have been out of the question a few years ago.” Clearly, the relationship between China and Japan is undergoing a thaw.

Instructors, click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing prompt and a debate question as well as other assessment questions.

Download the PowerPoint Lecture Spark for The China-Japan Relationship

Links

“Japan and China driven closer by trade tensions with U.S.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-45989353

“China and Japan pledge to boost economic cooperation”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/china-japan-pledge-boost-economic-cooperation-181026093948823.html

“China’s XI says Japan relations back on ‘right track’: State media”
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/china-s-xi-says-japan-relations-back-on-right-track-state-media-10868234

“Japan’s Abe: relations with China at ‘historic turning point’”
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-japan-speech/japans-abe-relations-with-china-at-historic-turning-point-idUSKCN1N00FB

“Japan, China resume currency swap”
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181026_32/

“Editorial: Mutual dependence key to stability between Japan, China ”
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20181022/p2a/00m/0na/013000c

“A warning from the U.S. Treasury”
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2018/10/19/editorials/warning-u-s-treasury/#.W9M6m3pKgdU

“Opinion: China and Japan’s friendship of convenience”
https://www.dw.com/en/opinion-china-and-japans-friendship-of-convenience/a-46057234

“Opinion: Will Japan and China cooperate on the Belt and Road Initiative?”
https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d414f7749544d30457a6333566d54/share_p.html

“Opinion: US-China trade war: Reading the tea leaves in India”
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/world/opinion-us-china-trade-war-reading-the-tea-leaves-in-india-3085491.html

Assessment

Writing: Why was a summit between Japan and China hard to imagine just a few years ago?
Debate: A rising alliance between Japan and China is important for political stability in Asia.
Poll: Do you believe the Trump administration is largely responsible for forcing Japan and China to seek a friendlier relationship?
Short Answer: Why have relationships between Japan and China been strained since World War II?

Current events quiz:

1) Why are China and Japan trying to rebuild their relationship?

a. To boost economic ties
b. To promote regional stability
c. To help each other in their efforts with North Korea
d. All of these

2) Xi Jinping is the ______ of China and Shinzo Abe is the ______ of Japan.

a. Prime Minister, President
b. Prime Minister, Prime Minister
c. President, President
d. President, Prime Minister

3) For the Abe Administration, the most important issue is to ______?

a. boost Japan’s economy
b. solve issues with North Korea
c. promote free trade
d. promote globalization

4) Historically, China and Japan have been allies and they often help each other in times of need. (T/F)

5) Mr. Abe’s current trip to China is the first visit by a Japanese head of government in more than 20 years. (T/F)

6) Another agreement made by the two countries is a U.S. #30 billion currency swap pact. (T/F)

Answers:

1) D

2) D

3) A

4) F

5) F

6) T

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The China-Japan Relationship