Hatred of common enemies is a bond, since there is a tendency to love those who hate what we hate. If such a conglomeration is successful, it comes in time to celebrate common glories. If it is in danger from without, it becomes united by having the same fears.
Source: Bertrand Russell: Human Society in Ethics and Politics, 1954, part II: The Conflict of Passions, chapter 5: Cohesion and Rivalry, n.1
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Before the establishment of the communist regime in China, Japan-China relations were amicable. From ancient times to the medieval period, Japan learned many things from China. However, in the modern era, Japan decided that it should learn from the advanced nations of Europe and began to look down on China as an underdeveloped country that lagged in modernization.
During his tenure, Prime Minister Abe advocated policies that could be described as a "containment of China," under slogans such as "a free and open Indo-Pacific" and "no tolerance for changes to the status quo by force," in cooperation with the United States.
Ironically, Trump, leveraging America’s overwhelming military and economic power, is attempting to implement changes to the status quo by force. As a result, the current Ishiba administration, while continuing to assert the principle of "a free and open Indo-Pacific," has nearly ceased to mention "no tolerance for changes to the status quo by force," perhaps out of deference to Trump. Given the current state of Japanese politics, where the opposition has overtaken the ruling party in strength, it is unthinkable for anyone to openly voice such criticisms.
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