This article highlights the growing geopolitical and public sentiment divide between Japan and China, as revealed by a joint survey conducted by The Genron NPO and China International Publishing Group in 2023. It shows that 92.2% of Japanese respondents held a negative view of China, a significant increase from the previous year, likely influenced by China's opposition to Japan’s release of treated Fukushima water and its suspension of Japanese marine imports. In contrast, 62.9% of Chinese respondents had a negative view of Japan, a sentiment that remained largely unchanged. The survey also highlighted key obstacles to Japan-China relations, with Japanese respondents prioritizing territorial disputes and the treated water issue, while only a small fraction of Chinese considered the water release a significant concern. Additionally, the survey revealed a shift in perceived national priorities, with Japanese respondents overwhelmingly viewing the U.S. as more important to their country's future than China, reflecting the deepening strain in bilateral ties and Japan’s alignment with the U.S. amidst regional tensions.
This article highlights the growing geopolitical and public sentiment divide between Japan and China, as revealed by a joint survey conducted by The Genron NPO and China International Publishing Group in 2023. It shows that 92.2% of Japanese respondents held a negative view of China, a significant increase from the previous year, likely influenced by China's opposition to Japan’s release of treated Fukushima water and its suspension of Japanese marine imports. In contrast, 62.9% of Chinese respondents had a negative view of Japan, a sentiment that remained largely unchanged. The survey also highlighted key obstacles to Japan-China relations, with Japanese respondents prioritizing territorial disputes and the treated water issue, while only a small fraction of Chinese considered the water release a significant concern. Additionally, the survey revealed a shift in perceived national priorities, with Japanese respondents overwhelmingly viewing the U.S. as more important to their country's future than China, reflecting the deepening strain in bilateral ties and Japan’s alignment with the U.S. amidst regional tensions.