(1) Date of Normalization of Sino-Japanese Relations:September 29, 1972.
(2) Brief review of Sino-Japanese relations after the World WarII
【In the 40's】
OnAugust 15, 1945, Japan accepted Potsdam Proclamation and announcedunconditional surrender. On September 3 of the same year, Japansigned the Letter of Surrender to the Allies, and the World War IIcame to an end.
【In the 50's】
OnSeptember 4, 1951, the United States hosted a peace conferenceregarding Japan in San Francisco without the participation ofChina, at which the Peace Treaty regarding Japan was approvedunilaterally. Premier and Foreign Minister Zhou Enlai issued astatement on September 18, putting out that the treaty as “illegal”and “invalid.” On September 8, Japan and US signed the SecurityPact and became military allies.
OnApril 28, 1952, the Japanese government signed a so called “PeaceTreaty” with the Taiwan authorities. On May 5, Foreign MinisterZhou Enlai issued a statement, expressing strong opposition to the“Peace Treaty” between Japan and the Chiang Kaishekauthorities.
OnJune 1, 1952, China Council for the Promotion of InternationalTrade (CCPIT) signed the first non-governmental trade agreementwith three Japanese organizations in charge of the promotion ofSino-Japanese trade.
OnOctober 30, 1954, the Chinese Red Cross delegation led by Li Dequanand Liao Chenzhi visited Japan, which was the first Chinesenon-governmental delegation to Japan after the war.
OnApril 15, 1955, Chinese Fishery Association signed anon-governmental fishery agreement with the Japanese-China FisheryCoordination Association.
OnApril 25, 1956, Chairman Mao Zedong issued a decree, announcing thedecision made by the National People's Congress (NPC) on how todeal with the Japanese war criminals in custody. On June 27,Premier Zhou declared that 1,017 of the Japanese war criminalswould be set free, with the exception of the other 45.
OnJune 2, 1957, the Japanese Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi visitedTaiwan in support for the “recapture” of the Mainland attempted bythe Chiang Kaishek authorities. On July 25, Premier Zhou Enlaidenounced Kishi's hostile policy towards China when he met withsome Japanese journalists.
OnMay 2, 1958, an incident of insulting China's national flag tookplace in Nagasaki by Japanese right wings, and resulted in thesuspension of Sino-Japanese trade. On July 7, China put forward the“Three Political Principles” guiding Sino-Japanese relations whichread as follows: the Japanese government should stop any anti-Chinawording and action, cease activities aiming at making “two Chinas”and it should not obstruct normalization of bilateral relations anymore.
OnMarch 12, 1959, Inejiro Asanuma，the Secretary General ofJapanese Socialist Party made a speech in Beijing, in which he saidthat “the American imperialists are the mutual enemy ofSino-Japanese people.” On October 12 the next year, he was murderedby Japanese ruffians.
OnSeptember 20, 1959, Premier Zhou signed a Communiqui of Talks withJapanese former Prime Minister Tanzan Ishibashi, in which the twosides reaffirmed to improve bilateral relations and to promotefriendship between the two peoples in accordance with the FivePrinciples of Peaceful Coexistence and the Ten Principles ofBangtong Conference. On Oct 21, Kenzo Matsumura，theadvisor of Japanese Liberal and Democratic Party (LDP) visitedChina , expressing support for the above-mentioned communiqui.
【In the 60s'】
OnAugust 27, 1960, Premier Zhou met with the Japanese businessmen andput forward the “Three Principles Guiding Trade with Japan,” namelygovernmental agreement, non-governmental contracts and favorabletreatment to specific case.
OnNovember 9, 1962, Liao Chenzhi and Tatsunosuke Tanazaki signed thememorandum for developing non-governmental trade.
OnApril 19, 1964, the Office of Liao and Tatsunosuke signed theMinutes Concerning Posting Representatives and Establishing LiaisonOffice in each other's countries and the Minutes of ExchangingJournalists.
【In the 70s'】
OnOctober 2, 1971, China put forward the “Three Principles on theRestoration of Sino-Japanese Diplomatic Relations”: ⑴ The People'sRepublic of China is the sole legal government of China; ⑵ Taiwanis an inalienable part of territory of the People's Republic ofChina; ⑶ “Peace Treaty” between Japan and Chiang Kaishekauthorities is illegal and it must be abrogated.
OnSeptember 25, 1972, the Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanakavisited China. On September 29, both the Chinese and Japanesegovernments issued Sino-Japanese Joint Statement. The restorationof the diplomatic relations between the two countries cametrue.
OnAugust 12, 1978, China and Japan signed the Treaty of Peace andFriendship Between the People's Republic of China and Japan. On Oct22, Chinese Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping visited Japan. On Oct 23,China and Japan exchanged instruments of ratification of the Treatyof Peace and Friendship.
OnDecember 5, 1979, the Japanese Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohiravisited China and committed to providing the first batch ofJapanese government loans to China.
【In the 80s'】
OnMay 27, 1980, Premier Hua Guofeng visited Japan, which was thefirst visit ever by Chinese Premier. The two countries agreed thatthe Sino-Japanese government/Diet member meeting be held within theyear. On July 8, Premier Hua Guofeng attended the funeral ofJapanese Prime Minister Ohira.
OnDecember 3, 1980, the first Sino-Japanese government/Diet membermeeting was held in Beijing. By June, 1987, there had been 5 suchmeetings.
OnMay 31, 1982, Premier Zhao Ziyang put forward, during his visit toJapan, “The Three Principles of the Sino-Japanese Relations,”namely peace and friendship, equality and mutual benefit, andlong-term stability.
OnJune 1982, the Japanese Education and Culture Ministry distortedthe history of invading China through reviewing its textbooks. Thusthe first textbook incident arose.
The Japanese Prime Minister Zenko Suzuki said that theSino-Japanese relations had entered into a mature period when hevisited China on September 26, 1982. In regard to the textbookincident, the Japanese government would be committed to solving itas soon as possible as in the spirit of the Sino-Japanese JointStatement.
OnNovember 23, 1983, Hu Yaobang, General Secretary of the CommunistParty of China, visited Japan. He confirmed with the Japanese PrimeMinister Yasuhiro Nakasone the “Four Principles of Sino-JapaneseRelations,” namely peace and friendship, equality and mutualbenefit, long-term stability and mutual trust. The two sides alsodecided to establish the 21st Century Committee for Sino-JapanFriendship.
OnMarch 23, 1984, the Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasonevisited China and decided to provide the second batch of Japanesegovernment loans to China.
OnSeptember 10, 1984, the first meeting of the 21st Century Committeefor Sino-Japan Friendship was held in Tokyo. 13 such meetings havebeen held till now.
OnSeptember 1984, 3,000 Japanese youth visited China at theinvitation of General Secretary Hu Yaobang and China National YouthLeague.
OnApril 21, 1985, Peng Zhen, Chairman of the Standing Committee ofthe NPC of China, visited Japan, which was the first visit evermade by the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC.
OnAugust 25, 1988, Japanese Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita visitedChina and committed the third batch of Japanese government loans toChina.
OnJanuary 7, 1989, Emperor Hirohito of Japan passed away. On Feb 24,Foreign Minister Qian Qichen, as special envoy of President YangShangkun, attended the funeral.
OnApril 12, 1989, Chinese Premier Li Peng visited Japan. When talkingabout the unfortunate history between China and Japan, EmperorAkihito for the first time used the word “regret” to apologize toChina.
OnJuly 14, 1989, Japan joined in with other 6 West nations inimposing economic sanctions by freezing the third Japanesegovernment loans and suspending high-level visits.
【In the 90s'】
OnJuly 11, 1990, Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu announced theresumption of its government loans to China at the Group 7Summit.
OnAugust 27, 1989, Yoshio Sakurauchi, president of the House of theRepresentatives, visited China.
OnNovember 12, 1990, Vice Premier Wu Xueqian participated in theenthroning ceremony of Emperor Akihito on behalf of Chinesegovernment.
OnAugust 10, 1991, Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu visitedChina, who became the first incumbent head of government of Westerncountries visiting China after June 1989.
OnApril 6, 1992, Jiang Zemin, General Secretary of the CommunistParty of China, visited Japan and invited Japanese Emperor Akihitoand Empress Michito to visit China.
OnMay 25, 1992, Wan Li, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPCof China, visited Japan.
OnOctober 23, 1992, Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michitovisited China, the first ever by Japanese Emperor. It filled in thegaps in the history of Sino-Japanese relations.
OnNovember 19, 1993, President Jiang Zemin met with the JapanesePrime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa during the APEC meeting inSeattle.
OnFebruary 23, 1994, Chinese Vice Premier Zhu Rongji visitedJapan.
OnMarch 19, 1994, Japanese Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa visitedChina. The two governments signed the agreement of cooperation inenvironmental protection.
OnApril 29, 1994, Bunbei Hara, President of the House ofRepresentatives, visited China.
OnAugust 27, 1994, Takako Doi, President of the House of Councilors,visited China and went to Tianjin Anti-Japanese War Martyr Museum,where he paid tribute to the Chinese labors who lost their lives inJapan during Anti-Japanese War time.
OnSeptember 12, 1994, regardless of China's strong opposition andsolemn representations, Japanese government issued visa for HsuLi-The, vice-president of Taiwan's “Executive Yuan” to visit Japanfor the Opening Ceremony of the Asian Games, which caused theHiroshima Asian Games Incident.
OnOctober 28, 1994, Rong Yiren, Chinese Vice president, visitedJapan, the first by Chinese Vice president.
OnDecember 22, 1994, the two governments concluded the agreement onthe 4th batch of Japanese governmental loans to China (only on thepart of the first 3 years).
OnApril 10, 1995, Qiao Shi, Chairman of the Standing Committee of theNPC of China, visited Japan.
OnMay 2, 1995, the Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama visitedChina. During his stay, he, as the first incumbent Prime Minister,visited Lugouqiao Bridge and the Chinese People's Anti-Japanese WarMuseum.
OnAugust 15, 1995, on behalf of the Japanese government, PrimeMinister Tomiichi Murayama made a speech on the history issue atthe 50th anniversary of World War II, stating clearly that Japanrecognized and would face directly the history of its invasionagainst other countries. Japanese government expressed deepintrospection and apology over it.
OnAugust 29, 1995, Japanese government made protest against China'snuclear test and announced to freeze its free aid to China.
OnNovember 18, 1995, President Jiang Zemin met with the JapanesePrime Minister Tomiichi Murayama during in the APEC meeting inOsaka.
Ever since July 1996, members of the right-wing groups landed onthe Diaoyu Island for 4 times, which created Diaoyu IslandIncident.
OnJuly 29, 1996, Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto visited theYasukuni Shrine.
OnNovember 24, 1996, President Jiang Zemin met with Prime MinisterRyutaro Hashimoto during the APEC meeting in Manila.
OnSeptember 4, 1997, Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto visited China.During his stay, as the first incumbent Prime Minister, he visitednortheast area in China and the September 18th Incident Museum.
OnNovember 11, 1997, Chinese Premier Li Peng visited Japan and putforward the “Five Principles of Sino-Japanese Relations,” namelymutual respect and non-interference in each other's internalaffairs, seeking commons while setting aside difference, handlingdisputes properly, increasing dialogue and understanding, mutualbenefit, deepening economic cooperation, and being forward-lookingand carrying on friendship from generation to generation. On thesame day, Chinese and Japanese governments signed a fisheryagreement.
OnApril 21, 1998, Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao visited Japan,during which he pointed out that the two countries should drawlessons from history and look to the future in the development ofSino-Japanese relations.
OnNovember 25, Chinese President Jiang Zemin made an official visitto Japan, which marked the first visit to Japan by Chinese head ofgovernment. The two sides issued the Sino-Japanese JointDeclaration, declaring the establishment of a partnership offriendship and cooperation for peace and development.
OnJuly 8, 1999, Japanese Prime Minister Obuchi made an official visitto China.
OnDecember 8, 1999, Member of the Political Bureau of the CentralCommittee of the Communist Part and Chairman of CPPCC Li Ruihuanpaid an official goodwill visit to Japan.
The Sino-Japanese relations have, on the whole, witnessed smoothdevelopment. The friendly exchanges and mutually beneficiarycooperation in various areas have made constant progress, whichhave not only brought about significant interests to the twocountries, but also made positive contributions to the regionalpeace, stability and development and the world as well.
In1998, President Jiang Zemin paid a successful state visit to Japan.In the spirit of “drawing lessons from history and look to thefuture,” the two sides seriously reviewed and summed up theexperience and lessons of the history of bilateral relations inthis century. The two sides declared to build a partnership offriendship and cooperation for peace and development, and drew up along-term perspective and a comprehensive plan on furthering thecooperation in all fields between the two countries.
InJuly 1999, Japanese Prime Minister Obuchi paid an official visit toChina. The two sides reaffirmed various important politicalconsensus reached during President Jiang's visit in the previousyear. The Japanese side took some new positions on certain issueswhich were of the Chinese concern. The two sides also had anin-depth exchange of views on how to further advance the bilateralrelations in the direction of continuous healthy and stabledevelopment and strengthen the pragmatic cooperation between thetwo countries. The two countries explicitly defined the futurefocal points and orientation for cooperation. The successful visitof Prime Minister Obuchi would be conducive to bringing about asound developing Sino-Japanese relationship into the 21st century.The two sides are now making positive efforts in implementing thefruits borne from the exchange of visits by the leaders of bothcountries. The cooperation in some areas has achieved periodicalprogress.
However, there exist problems in the bilateral relations on whichattention should be made. The issues of history and Taiwan are ofmost importance. With the deepening of the bilateral relations,some problems and conflicts have arisen from time to time. Theyshould be properly handled in the light of principles and spiritsembodied in the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, the Treaty of Peaceand Friendship between the People's Republic of China and Japan,and the Sino-Japanese Joint Declaration issued during PresidentJiang's visit to Japan in 1998, so as to safeguard the overallinterests of the Sino-Japanese relations.
【In the 2000s'】
OnApril 4, 2000, Zeng Qinghong, an alternate member of the PoliticalBureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee andhead of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committeeled a delegation made up of Chinese Communist Party members to paya good- will visit to Japan.
OnMay 10, 2000, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan paid an official visitto Japan.
OnMay 20, 2000, President Jiang Zemin met with over 5000 Japan-ChinaCultural and Tourist Exchange Mission made up of various circles ofJapan, and delivered an important speech on the development ofnon-governmental friendly relations between the two countries.
OnMay 29,2000, Director-General of the three Japanese ruling partiesvisited China.
OnJune 7,2000, Vice Premier attended Late Japanese Prime MinisterKeizo Obuchi's funeral held by the Japanese government as specialenvoy of the Chinese government.
OnAugust 28, 2000, Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono paid anofficial visit to China at invitation.
OnOctober 12, 2000, Premier Zhu Rongji visited Japan officially.
OnJuly 9, 2001, On May 29, 2000, Director-General of the threeJapanese ruling parties visited China.
OnOctober 8, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi paid a workingvisit to China.
OnNovernmber 21, 2001, President Jiang Zemin met with Prime MinisterJunichiro Koizumi who was attending APEC meeting held atShanghai.
(3) Recent Development of China-Japan Relations
Inthe recent years, China-Japan relations have kept impetus ongeneral and high-level contacts remained frequent. President Jiangpaid a state visit to Japan at the end of 1998, and the two sidesdeclared to build a partnership of friendship and cooperation forpeace and development. In July, 1999, Japanese Prime MinisterJunichiro Koizumi paid an official visit to China and in DecemberChairman of the Chinese People's Consultative Conference (CPPCC) LiRuihuan visited Japan. On May 20, 2000, President Jiang met withmet with over 5000 Japan-China Cultural and Tourist Exchange Groupmade up of various circles of Japan, and delivered an importantspeech on the development of non-governmental friendly relationsbetween the two countries. On October 12, Premier Zhu visitedJapan. He made broad contact with both the government and thepublic, and exchanged in-depth opinions on how to further developthe China-Japan relations in the 21st century frankly and reachedconsensus on many issues.
Since the year 2001, the issues of history textbooks, Lee Tenghui'svisiting Japan and the paying of homage to the Yasukuni Shrine havedone severe harm to the China-Japan relations. On October 8, PrimeMinister Junichiro Koizumi paid a one-day working visit to China.He visited Museum of Chinese People's War of Resistance AgainstJapan and clarified his position on historical issues. During thesessions of APEC meeting in Shanghai, President Jiang and PrimeMinister Koizumi held talks. During the sessions of the 5th ASEAN+3Summit in Brunei, Chinese, Japanese and Korean leaders heldtripartite meetings. All these visits and meetings have bornpositive results and the China-Japan relations were gradually drawnback to the normal path.