The prospects of Sino-Japanese relations have entered a broader trajectory because of Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's attitude and policy changes toward the United States and China ever since he came to power.

After the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) took over the reins of government from the Liberal Democratic Party, Tokyo has made unremitting efforts to change its past "dependency" status in its decades-long alliance with Washington and press its largest ally to "respect" Japanese people's aspirations for "independence and self-reliance".

The change in equation in US-Japan ties is expected to have a direct impact on the development of Sino-Japanese relations. However, the situation is not that optimistic given a string of Asian offensives recently made by US leaders from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to President Barack Obama. After taking office, Obama began to refocus US attention on the Asia-Pacific region. During his recent trip to Japan, the US president said he would be a "Pacific President", and reiterated during his maiden state visit to China the stance that Washington would not "contain" Beijing.

Obama's remarks indicate the US' desire to regain its declining influence in Asia as the world's sole superpower, which will possibly affect Sino-Japanese relations.

After coming to power, Hatoyama worked out an Asian strategy ahead of the US, the first time since the end of World War II. Before him, Japan's China policy was always subject to Washington's attitude toward Beijing.

Recently, the ruling parties in China and Japan have established a regular consultation mechanism and DPJ Secretary-General Ichiro Ozawa consequently positioned the future Sino-Japanese relationship as "the 21st century partnership in human history".

China would like to see a more independent and self-reliant Japan and hopes that the US plays a positive role in the Asia-Pacific region together with China, Japan and other countries. The US should extend active support to East Asian integration, which is an important component of broader Asia-Pacific cooperation.

At the East Asia Summit concluded not long ago, Premier Wen Jiabao pointed out that East Asian countries should, in a gradual, open and inclusive manner, expand common ground, deepen cooperation and step forward toward building a long-term East Asian community.

Geographically, East Asia only comprises China, the Korean Peninsula and the Japanese chain of islands in the narrow sense. But in a broader sense, the region also covers Southeast Asian nations and part of Russia's territories in Northeast Asia. Practically, East Asia refers to a common political, cultural and geographic concept that regional members have managed to forge on the basis of equality, and common concerns on political, economic and security interests as well as a common historical and cultural identity.

That East Asian countries enhance strategic reciprocity is inevitable. The ever-changing international situation makes it a necessity for East Asian countries to ceaselessly strengthen their political, military and security cooperation in a bid to protect regional interests and ensure the fulfillment of their development targets. Economic complementarity among East Asian nations will help cement the foundation of the region's economic cooperation.

To tackle the global financial crisis and fend off risks that are likely to be engendered by globalization, regional members have reached a consensus on the building of a EU-style community. Also, the unique ideological and moral consciousness among the East Asian civilization belts, a kind of cultural bonding built on identical or approximate traditions and cultures, is expected to constitute a common ideological foundation for the regional community. Built on Confucianism, East Asian civilizations and values advocate collectivity and humanity as well as family and social harmony, which will bring regional members closer. Despite huge changes East Asian countries have experienced in their relations, they are sure to explore an open-to-all formula for regional cooperation that will help rejuvenate Asia and contribute much to world peace.

As two influential powers in East Asia, the environment remains another key area for China and Japan to promote enhanced reciprocity. It also serves as a top priority for East Asian cooperation. China and Japan have signed a joint declaration on environmental protection and climate change, committing themselves to extensive cooperation on prevention of water pollution, building an experimental "circular economy" zone, reducing air pollutant emissions, curbing acid rain and sand erosion, as well as on coal power production. They have also abided by the differential principle and cooperated actively under the framework of the Kyoto Protocol for a new and more efficient framework on greenhouse gas emissions after the Protocol expires in 2012.

The two countries should work together to jointly tackle climate change as a common and immediate challenge to mankind, and conduct effective cooperation on economical use of energy, improvement of efficiency, new and renewable energies as well as reuse of carbon dioxide and its storage.

A Sino-Japanese relationship in the post-US-Japan alliance should be built on increased mutual trust. The two countries should gradually reduce the influence of the US in developing bilateral ties and try to increase mutual understanding among their peoples and develop China-Japan-US ties into an equilateral triangular relationship.

The author is a researcher with the Institute of Japanese Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

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