From Rivalry to Partnership? The Future of Sini-Japanese Cooperation in Maritime Trade and Logistics
Семенова Нелли КимовнаВосточная аналитика '2025, №3, с.108-125
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31696/2227-5568-2025-03-108-124
This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the evolution and current trends
in China- Japan cooperation in port infrastructure and maritime trade. The research relevance
stems from the pivotal role of maritime hubs in both economies and the need to understand
their interaction amid growing geopolitical tensions in East Asia. The study aims to examine
the dialectics of cooperation and competition in Sino- Japanese port relations through the lens
of historical development and contemporary economic processes. The methodological framework incorporates periodization of interaction stages, comparative analysis of statistical data,
and assessment of structural changes in bilateral trade from 1995 to 2024.
The findings demonstrate that despite historical controversies and modern challenges, bilateral cooperation in the port sector continues to evolve. Particular attention is given to the
seikei bunri phenomenon (separation of politics and economics), which has recently been
transforming under the influence of Japan’s new «economically realistic» diplomacy. Key conclusions reveal growing asymmetry: China’s dominance in container shipping contrasts with
Japan’s maintained niche positions in LNG transshipment and auto components. The establishment of the high-speed «Golden Passage» logistics corridor between Qingdao and Osaka in
2023 indicates persistent cooperation potential despite Tokyo’s strategic diversification efforts.