RITORNO AL FUTURO. Determinanti e implicazioni del neo-patriottismo cinese nelle relazioni sino-giapponesi.

Abstract

Anti-Japanese protests in China have become more frequent over the last ten years. Since 2005, when violent demonstrations arouse in China in order to oppose Japan’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, several analysts have started warning about the nature of Chinese patriotism and its impact on the future of Sino-Japanese relations. By focusing on anti-Japanese protests that took place in mainland China in 2005, 2010 and 2012, this study contends that even though the nature of Chinese patriotism seems to be assertive, it is defensive and reactive in essence. Furthermore, it maintains that the anti-Japanese nationalism can have a critical impact on bilateral economic relations as well. In the first part, the evolution of Chinese nationalism since the beginning of the XXth century is examined, by taking into account the most relevant events that affected the progress of patriotism in China. For instance, what several episodes in Chinese history -such as the Boxer Revolution, the Maoist era and the Patriotic Education Campaign in the mid ‘90s - prove is the dependent, reactive nature of Chinese patriotism. Indeed, since the fall of the Sinocentric system Chinese identity has been engaged in a process of identity crisis; as a consequence, the meaning of Chinese identity has been depending on the existence of an “external agent/enemy” as a reference in order to understand what “Chinese identity” is or is not. The second section does focus on the anti-Japanese essence of Chinese patriotism. By paying attention to patriotic Museums, Anti-Japan war online games and patriotic tv dramas, it is investigated how the anti-Japanese sentiment shapes daily lives of many Chinese people. Furthermore, after having analysed the unpopular perception of Japanese government among several Chinese people, the attention of the study revolves around the most critical protests in Mainland China that took place against the Japanese establishment over the last ten years. As a result, the grave anti-Japanese demonstrations that spread to several Chinese cities in 2005, 2010 and most recently in 2012 do reveal both the assertiveness and the defensive, reactive nature of Chinese nationalism due to the “pride-humiliation” syndrome. Moreover, the instrumental essence of the CCP nationalism when facing Japan is explored as well. Finally, the third part is dedicated to the assessment of the effects of anti-Japanese protests on bilateral economic relations. First, the so-called “hot economics- cold politics” framework is briefly analysed, pointing out the separation of economy and politics in Sino-Japanese relations during the Cold War, which was the main responsible for the steady growth in mutual economic relations. Second, by focusing on post-Cold War anti-Japanese protests and diplomatic confrontations between Beijing and Tokyo, the economic effects of such demonstrations are assessed. As a consequence, it is argued that the growing anti-Japanese sentiment at the core of Chinese identity, both at the social and political level, is likely to affect not only diplomatic cooperation between Beijing and Tokyo but also bilateral economic ties, thus resulting in an attempt to the maintenance of “hot economics- cold politics” framework in the next future. To sum up, the study addresses the anti-Japanese nature of Chinese identity, which is apparently assertive but defensive, reactive in essence. Moreover, it points out the effects of anti-Japanese protests in China over the last ten years both in the political and economic realms of Sino-Japanese relations, thus emphasising the role identity and ideational factors play in international relations. As globalization interconnects economically, it is central to develop a complex understanding of the multifaceted nexus between economics, politics and identity.