Sino-Japanese military alliance

It always occurred to me, that the US-UK alliance is very strong and effective cooperation. But it also occurred to me that a similar alliance can be repeated in the Pacific theater, but China and Japan.

Although currently we are still miles away from this being a possible idea for both China and Japan to consider, but in my humble opinion I think if this alliance can be reached and sustained, the output will be perhaps stronger than what US-UK can ever achieve. With China being the next superpower, we're looking at PRC being in the role of the US in this alliance. Of course Japan as the UK role here. I think that this alliance will do miracles to improving the relationship of both cultures and people.

Sino-Japanese alliance can mean regional stability. This is provided that the alliance isn't for aggression purposes. Both Chinese and the Japanese will have peace of mind of the intention of their neighbors, and reduce unnecessary military hardware buildups due to fear of aggression by the neighbor. That in return saves billions of dollars off the defense budget that can be put to better use.
Another thing will be that if the JSDF and the PLA are able to cooperate and come to mutual consent, sharing technology both in civilian and military will benefit both sides, especially China. For example Chinese version of the Red Flag can be carried out with JSDF pilots as well as training exercises in EW with AWACS such as cross-linking the E-3 Sentry and KJ-2000. Even disaster response can be hastened. Sharing the seas can help combat piracy off the coasts. With China's aircraft carrier program in progress, the alliance can benefit both navies and increase understanding which prevents the Japanese feel threatened by the new fleets. Same goes to China regarding the Japanese AEGIS cruiser fleets.

In economic terms, Chinese growth can benefit Japanese economy as well as itself. Business cooperation helps increase relationship of both people and share cultures. China can then benefit in arts, technology, and as so with Japan have more access to Chinese culture. Foreign exchange learnings can increase understanding as well. The economic strength resulted form this alliance, (correct me if I'm foolish for saying this), stronger than what EU or US-UK alliance will be.

Resource management in the region, along with any crises in the Far East, such as the Korean Peninsula, Sino-Japanese territorial disputes or Taiwan Strait can be resolved easier because communication have increased. Regional stability will mean foreign troop presence can decrease, benefiting other nations in their budgets too. The cooperation can also lead to a EAU (East-Asia Union), where the Asia Five Tigers along with China cooperate for trades and forums and conventions. Of course currency and sovereign identity remains.

In culture-wise, the people both sides can have better understanding with each other as Japanese and the Chinese have been neighbors for thousands of years. Some aspects of the Chinese cultures are embedded in the Japanese cultures, while in the modern era Japanese technology, economy have great benefits to the Chinese as well. It is a very strong mutual relation thing as we can see. The alliance will also convince the Chinese people that Japanese militarism isn't rejuvenating, while to the Japanese the alliance means that the barrels aren't pointing at them. Discrimination and racism can decrease, which will look better on China's profile. Lastly such a bond between both sides can preserve peace, but also help Japan present herself as a nation that had shred its shadow of its war-aggressive past and be accepted better in East Asia and Southeast Asia. (Singapore, Malaysia, Koreas, Indonesia, etc.)


This topic isn't meant to offend anyone here. It's just my humble two cents. I wonder what everyone else may say. Do you agree or disagree? Since I'm not even a professional, therefore I'm eager to hear what all the think-tanks and knowledgeable folks here at Sinodefence forum have to say.

Thank you.

The most difficult thing to overcome here would the perception of each other from both sides. For obvious reasons China doesnt have a very good view of Japan, add US and Taiwan into the mix and that not-very-good view becomes a bad view. Japan, on the other hand, views China's economic, political and military rise with deep suspicion.
Remember, 2 great powers sharing the same room can get crowded at times...

This kind of alliance is not going to happen in our life time for several reasons:

1) like flyzies said, its hard for great powers to share such a close proximity. Don't forget about Russia and Korea thrown into the mix (they all have issues with each other). its much more complicated than trans-atlantic alliance of US and Europe.

2) i do think Japan still prefers chinese barrels pointing at them than much bigger US barrels. think about it.

3) perception - as long as the west still paints china as the common bad guy, i don't think japan wants to join the china side. It might take another major war to change this (i.e if somehow US is fighting japan again and china aids japan). why join the risky side when u are already on a stable side?

4) Militarily - Japan will benefit more by having the US as its allies due to overall strength and technology sharing.

Not saying that the alliance is impossible, but it will take hundreds of years and probably at least one major war to change the situation. At the mean time I am optimistic that sino-japan relationship will get better and maybe can progress to some sort of economic alliance, but will not progress to military alliance in the short - medium term.

Japan and China are already in a military alliance. As with the rest of the world. All aggressions are faked in order to form some sort of nation identity to the unknowing masses. The New World Order has been in place for quite a long time.

The sad thing about the "Asian" mentality is that it's mainly a follower mentality. For many it's because they don't know direction for themselves and will follow those whose path is most greenest. The others follow because they know it's safer to let the leader get all the attention and take all the risks while they settle for the seconds as long it's more fruitful than mostly everyone else.

That's why it's most beneficial for the Japanese that the US and China be at odds. For one if China and the US were close, the Japanese would be relegated to a lesser position. When they are at odds, American attention will be on China and not Japan. Japan reaps the benefits from any American paranoia over China.

A Sino/Japanese alliance will never come within our lifetimes. Why? Because a whole slew of factors would have to happen before it. Most of all is the decline of the US. If the Japanese don't benefit from the US, they will move on to greener pastures. China would also have to rise economically, technologically, and miltarily to a level that surpasses the US and the West. A another big factor as a result would be that some non-Japanese involved major conflict arises where the US faces either China itself or a country in possession of Chinese military technology which the US finds itself not on the winning side because of it. A US facing an opponent that it could not defeat because of that technology would create an epic shift in the geo-political world.

Followers always love being on the winning side.

A Sino-Japanese alliance would mean either ditching the US-Japan alliance, or getting the US to agree to it. Neither is especially likely.

Furthermore there are plenty of outstanding historical and territorial disputes - can't have an alliance with those outstanding.

AssassinsMace said:

The sad thing about the "Asian" mentality is that it's mainly a follower mentality. For many it's because they don't know direction for themselves and will follow those whose path is most greenest. The others follow because they know it's safer to let the leader get all the attention and take all the risks while they settle for the seconds as long it's more fruitful than mostly everyone else.

That's why it's most beneficial for the Japanese that the US and China be at odds. For one if China and the US were close, the Japanese would be relegated to a lesser position. When they are at odds, American attention will be on China and not Japan. Japan reaps the benefits from any American paranoia over China.

A Sino/Japanese alliance will never come within our lifetimes. Why? Because a whole slew of factors would have to happen before it. Most of all is the decline of the US. If the Japanese don't benefit from the US, they will move on to greener pastures. China would also have to rise economically, technologically, and miltarily to a level that surpasses the US and the West. A another big factor as a result would be that some non-Japanese involved major conflict arises where the US faces either China itself or a country in possession of Chinese military technology which the US finds itself not on the winning side because of it. A US facing an opponent that it could not defeat because of that technology would create an epic shift in the geo-political world.

Followers always love being on the winning side.

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good analysis. i really appreciate your response. same as everyone else.
as for mr t, i agree. when i bring this topic up, i know it's going to take a long time before such alliance can happen.
but again, in the world of politics, no one can be trusted, so Japan-US alliance, as with even a Sino-Japanese alliance or any alliance, will never be completely truthful. but that's a no-brainer

however i do hope both countries make bigger steps towards common ground. the visits by the navies and the leaders are helping. the japanese response and sympathy during the earthquake are heart-felt. so hopefully we see some difference. military alliance may not be for another long time, but at least a decent relationship will be what the people of both sides needed.

another possibility is to have China-India Alliance, but without sacrificing relationship with Pakistan. For now, China should focus on alliance with Russia.

Well, maybe a alliance is possible between chinaand japan, but it will not happn until China's power(Militarily, economic, politically) all overwhemingly outpower Japan, so not within at least 50years I'd say.

China-India alliance might also be possible, the 2 countries have alot in common tbh. but yes china is not gonna abandon Pakistan no matter what, so Indo-**** relationship need to improve alot first.

Formal alliances will be obsolete in the future. In its place would be provisional or situational alliances where countries would band together for one common goal, then dissolve when that's done, and renew alliances again if another issue rises with different or varying partners.