Japan’s strong ties to the West have benefited its economy and global standing in the Pacific Rim for the better part of a century. Now, as China gains power and grows bolder, Japan’s next moves will test the stability of China-Japan relations.

Japan’s balancing act has gotten increasingly more challenging over the years. Tasked with trying to placate both China, its powerful neighbor, and the United States, its long-time ally and protector, Tokyo’s delicate balancing act is becoming ever more difficult to sustain.

The China-Japan relationship is like a ship forging ahead against the wind. But it’s also drifting in the current and will move backward if it fails to move ahead. Their ties in the new era need to be constantly enriched and exercised.

The United States and Japan are interfering in domestic affairs, and they have formed an ideological alliance in which they believe China must be confronted. The U.S. should reconsider this as it seeks allies among unrepentant Japanese politicians. After sowing the wind, what comes next is the whirlwind.

Japan seems developed and orderly, but that’s only its outward appearance. In truth, it is a vassal of the United States, which has adopted chaos as standard diplomatic theory. Now Japan wants to discharge radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear accident into the sea. Who will say no?

China, Japan, and the U.S. have all swapped places as allies and adversaries of each other. Recent times have brought Japan and the U.S. closer together against a powerful Chinese presence in East Asia.

The Japanese Prime Minister’s surprise resignation may affect Japan’s handling of its two most important bilateral relations, Japan-China and Japan-US relations.

Japan’s decision to scrap an expensive land-based missile defense system coincides with an important rethink of its security strategy, in favor of offensive capabilities.

The Abe government welcomed and fostered the US rethink on its China policy, but the COVID-19 crisis, along with the 2020 presidential elections, have accelerated and deepened Washington’s China pushback. Where will Japan situate itself between these two powers?

The U.S.’ commitment to back Japan in a conflict should not be extended to Japan’s vague claim of the Senkaku Islands. The territorial dispute between Japan and China is far too precarious, and one in which the U.S. should avoid in order to prevent further conflict with Beijing.