The results of the annual public opinion survey on China-Japan relations are unveiled in Tokyo, capital of Japan, on December 2 (COURTESY PHOTO)

On December 2, the results of the annual public opinion survey on China-Japan relations conducted by the Beijing-Tokyo Forum, a collaborative effort between Beijing-based China International Communications Group (CICG) and Japanese think tank Genron NPO, were unveiled in Tokyo, capital of Japan.

The survey revealed that economic and trade cooperation remains the cornerstone and driving forces of China-Japan relations. A majority of respondents from both nations view each other as vital economic and trade partners.

Specifically, 51.8 percent of Chinese respondents and 58.0 percent of Japanese respondents underscored the other country’s importance as a major economy and an important trading partner.

Gao Anming, Editor-in-Chief of CICG, addresses the survey’s findings in Tokyo on December 2 (COURTESY PHOTO)

Additionally, 50.8 percent of Chinese respondents recognized the deep economic and industrial interdependence between the two countries, emphasizing their shared interests. Similarly, 65.3 percent of Japanese respondents stressed that economic cooperation with China is indispensable for Japan’s future.

The results also indicated a growing number of respondents from both countries who have visited the other. However, the majority of respondents still have not made such visits--82.1 percent of Chinese and 88.0 percent of Japanese respondents. These figures, though, show slight improvements from last year, when 88.6 percent of Chinese and 88.2 percent of Japanese respondents reported not having visited the other country.

Kudou Yasushi, founder and president of Genron NPO, elaborates on the survey results in Tokyo on December 2 (COURTESY PHOTO)

Among Chinese respondents who have traveled to Japan, 51.9 percent did so within the past year. In contrast, 66.7 percent of Japanese respondents who visited China had last done so over 11 years ago.

Chinese respondents identified important forms of people-to-people exchange as follows: academic communication between scholars and researchers (39.9 percent), talent exchanges between private enterprises (38.6 percent), and nongovernmental dialogues aimed at improving bilateral relations and addressing various issues (38.1 percent).

Yuan Yue, Chairman of Beijing-based data service provider Dataway, discusses the survey’s findings in Tokyo on December 2 (COURTESY PHOTO)

Among Japanese respondents, the most preferred forms of people-to-people exchanges are cultural, music and art exchanges (53.7 percent), student exchange programs (47.4 percent), and nongovernmental dialogues (39.3 percent).

For Chinese respondents, the Diaoyu Islands dispute and the Fukushima nuclear wastewater issue emerged as top concerns. No fewer than 45.5 percent of them identified the Diaoyu Islands issue as the primary reason for their negative impressions of Japan. When asked about the primary issues hindering China-Japan relations, responses were nearly evenly split between “territorial disputes, including the Diaoyu Islands” and the “Fukushima Daiichi nuclear wastewater discharge issue,” both of which received considerable attention.

A journalist asks questions at the press conference for the release of the survey results in Tokyo on December 2 (COURTESY PHOTO)

The survey also revealed an increasing awareness among Chinese respondents of the need for enhanced international cooperation in global governance.

“Climate change” stood out as the most pressing global issue for respondents from both countries, with 24.5 percent of Chinese respondents and 35.8 percent of Japanese respondents prioritizing it.

Furthermore, 56.2 percent of Chinese respondents agreed on the importance of strengthening international cooperation to address global challenges, marking an increase of 3.4 percentage points from 52.8 percent in 2023. Additionally, 52.4 percent of Chinese respondents believe China should take a leading role in maintaining international stability.

A journalist asks questions at the press conference for the release of the survey results in Tokyo on December 2 (COURTESY PHOTO)

The survey also highlighted the growing impact of China-U.S. relations on China-Japan relations. A rising number of Japanese respondents called for a balanced and neutral foreign policy, reflecting concerns over the deepening U.S.-Japan alliance. Particularly, 37.8 percent of Japanese respondents expressed the view that China and Japan should minimize the influence of China-U.S. relations and focus on fostering bilateral cooperation. This represents an increase of 8.8 percentage points from 29.0 percent in 2023.

And 62.2 percent of Japanese respondents believe that Japan should not take sides between China and the U.S., but instead focus on promoting global cooperation. This is an increase of 4.2 percentage points from 58.0 percent in 2023, surpassing the 18.7 percent who prioritize “placing more emphasis on the U.S.”

Domestic news media remain the primary source of information for Chinese respondents regarding Japan and China-Japan relations, with a noticeable increase in the use of mobile devices.

Chinese respondents primarily gather information about Japan and China-Japan relations through Chinese news media (75.2 percent), Chinese films and TV programs (65.5 percent) and social media platforms (53.9 percent). Social media, included as a new dimension in the survey, ranked among the top three news sources.

In terms of media format, 55.5 percent of Chinese respondents access news about China-Japan relations through mobile device news apps and news websites, surpassing television (30.2 percent) for the first time to become the primary media channel. Additionally, 56.1 percent of Chinese respondents believe that Chinese media play a positive role in improving China-Japan relations and promoting mutual understanding between the peoples of both countries.

The survey was conducted simultaneously in both China and Japan from mid-October to early November. The Chinese side of the survey was organized by the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies under the CICG, and carried out by Dataway, a Beijing-based data provider. The survey covered 10 cities in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Nanjing, Shenyang, Xi’an, Chengdu and Qingdao. It applied a random sampling method, with a total sample size of 1,500.

Launched in 2005, the Beijing-Tokyo Forum is an annual platform for fostering interaction and exchange between China and Japan. It is currently one of the largest and most high-level public diplomacy and people-to-people exchange platforms between China and Japan.

The 20th Beijing-Tokyo Forum will be held in Tokyo on December 4-5. The theme of this year’s forum is “Restoring peace and rebuilding a global order based on multilateral cooperation through Japan-China cooperation.”

Experts and scholars from both China and Japan will discuss topics including bilateral politics and diplomacy, economic and trade relations, security, digital economy, media, youth dialogue, peace and order, and multilateral cooperation. Their discussions aim to contribute insights to the development of China-Japan relations and the resolution of global issues.

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon

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