中日东海海域划界问题背后的中日两强并立新格局

The New Power Pattern between China and Japan behind the East China Sea Issue

中日东海海域划界问题本质上是两国之间的领土主权和国家利益之争。它由来已久,而2004年以来的全面升级绝不是偶然的突发事件,日本媒体的炒作和油价高涨的经济环境作为外围因素在其中发挥了作用,而关键性的内在因素还是在这一期间中日两国之间所呈现的"两强并立"的新国力格局。总体上看,中日东海海域划界问题的僵局正是中日关系目前整体困难局面的缩影,它的解决需要以高层交流为契机、以两国关系的整体缓和为后盾。

The Sino-Japanese East China Sea issue is essentially a dispute over territorial sovereignty and national interests between the two countries. Though lasting for a long time, its comprehensive upgrading since 2004 was not accidental. Japan’s media speculation and the economic environment of the high-rising oil prices were the external causes, whereas the key internal factor was the new pattern of strength between the 'two adjacent powers' of China and Japan during this period. Generally, the deadlock over the East China Sea issue is a microcosm of the overall hardships in Sino-Japanese relations, and its successful resolution depends on high-level exchanges and an overall improvement in bilateral relations.