Regarding Sino-Japanese relations, former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishihara said many things that Japanese people don't like to hear.
On July 21, the Fuji TV online program "News Postgame" interviewed Ishihara. In response to the question about "China's test launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles, and how Japan should respond to China's challenges in security matters," Ishihara said that it would be useful to put oneself in China's position and see how they view the world.
"I have absolutely no intention of speaking on behalf of China. The United States and China are indeed two major powers that divide the world into two parts. Both countries believe they must be the number one power in the world."
The question is, how should Japan navigate the strained relations between the two countries?
"Unlike the United States, Japan is close to China. The intricate relationships between China and Japan are far more complex than those between the United States and its neighbors. The period when the Japanese economy was at its peak was roughly around 1994 and 1995; at that time, Japan's GDP was seven times that of China's. Today, Japan's GDP is only one-fifth of that of China."
"In the face of China's missile launches, there must be feelings among Japanese citizens like 'How can China do such a thing?' But how can we improve this situation? It’s not about doing whatever China says. Instead, Japan should cooperate with China while maintaining its independence, and at the same time maintain its alliance with the United States. Of course, some will say that such a thing is impossible. But isn’t this exactly what politics should do?"
