China and Japan: The Cold War Structural Dynamics Reappearing in Northeast Asia?

This article will analyse and discuss the recent development in the relationship between China and Japan and its implications for security in Northeast Asia and for international security. The argument is that the relationship between China and Japan constitutes a serious risk of developing into a dominating regional bipolarity with characteristics similar to the Cold War bipolarity. Such a development will not only have strong implications for security in Northeast Asia, but also for international security especially due to the United StatesÂ’ security alliance with Japan and the strong interest of the United States to maintain its strong role in Asian security. The development in the Sino-Japanese relationship towards a hostile dominating regional bipolarity is however not inevitable and by adopting a long-term policy focusing on balancing the American security relations to Japan and China, the United States can help pre-empt such a development. ..PAT.-Conference Proceeding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]