Despite ongoing disputes over the Senkaku Islands and detained Japanese nationals, Japan’s government framed recent foreign minister talks with China as an improvement in relations.
This editorial argues that concealing disagreements and emphasizing superficial harmony is counterproductive.
True improvement requires addressing root causes and openly disclosing diplomatic realities.

If there were heated exchanges, they should be made public. Concealing discrepancies is harmful and useless.
2018-01-31.
The following is from yesterday’s Sankei Shimbun editorial.
All emphasis in the text, except for the headline, is mine.
Japan–China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
Improvement despite “parallel lines.”
How do the Japanese people view China today.
Many are concerned about China’s high-handed behavior over issues such as the Senkaku Islands and the detention of Japanese nationals.
That is precisely why Japan–China relations have cooled.
For relations to improve, the root causes must be removed.
Yet the Chinese side, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who met with visiting Foreign Minister Taro Kono, did not even show the slightest sign of changing its attitude.
This is extremely regrettable.
With outstanding issues still at a standstill, it is hard to accept the government’s explanation that Japan–China relations are improving.
Merely arranging formalities such as reciprocal visits by leaders will not lead to genuine friendship.
At the foreign ministers’ meeting, both sides agreed to promote mutual visits between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Xi Jinping and to cooperate on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
In talks with Premier Li Keqiang, Japan also received positive remarks about attending a Japan–China–South Korea summit to be held in Japan around spring.
Opportunities for leaders to meet face to face and exchange candid views are necessary.
However, has recent diplomacy toward China devoted too much effort to creating a mood of conciliation to make this possible.
This marks the 40th anniversary of the Japan–China Peace and Friendship Treaty, yet recent relations between the two countries are far from “peace” or “friendship.”
It is said that the foreign ministers confirmed efforts to make the East China Sea a “sea of peace, cooperation, and friendship” and affirmed the spirit of “not becoming threats to each other,” but do these words have substance.
The Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea are an inherent part of Japan’s territory.
Mr. Kono protested the incident in which a Chinese nuclear submarine navigated while submerged within the contiguous zone off the Senkaku Islands and demanded measures to prevent recurrence.
There was reportedly no concrete explanation from the Chinese side.
It is also unclear how thoroughly the issue of China’s militarization of artificial islands in the South China Sea, in disregard of international law, was discussed.
If there were heated exchanges, they should be made public.
Concealing differences out of consideration is harmful and useless.
According to China’s Xinhua News Agency, Japan expressed a “positive attitude” toward participating in China’s Belt and Road Initiative and exploring cooperation in third countries.
We must not forget that the Belt and Road Initiative has aspects of China’s pursuit of hegemony.
Mr. Wang Yi said he “appreciates” Mr. Kono’s visit as contributing to improved relations.
If Japan continues to postpone unresolved issues, it will only make the other side think that Japan is easy to handle.