1. ERIN ENDERSON
The Perils of Proximity:
China-Japan Security
Relations
IR6635: National Security Policy
Dr. Joel Campbell
2/11/2013
Richard C. Bush, The Perilsof Proximity: China-Japan Security Relations (Washington: Brookings
Institution Press,2010). ISBN 0815704747, 978-0815704744

2. Enderson 1
In addressing the security relationship between China and Japan, Richard Bush states that, “the
conclusions that a country draws about another’s intentions are based not only on the capabilities
that the other acquires but also on their mutual interactions on sensitive issues” (56-61). This is
not a controversial stance to take when approaching the relationship between any two countries,
however it does appear to be a bit understated in reference to China and Japan who have a long
history of conflict which continues today. Bush does focus extensively on the current key issues
between these two East Asian powers, in particular the ownership of the Senkaku / Diary Islands,
delineating the continental shelf and exclusive economic zones, Taiwan, mitigating the
capabilities race, and reconciliation over the past. However, his suggested solutions for
resolving these issues are at times overly broad, and through no fault of his own, are now
somewhat outdated based on recent interactions between China and Japan, specifically their
disagreement over the Senkaku / Diary Islands.
Bush begins the book with a thorough outline of topics to be covered in the book and begins his
first chapter of content with a discussion of the military conflict between China and Japan in the
1930s which set the stage and still heavily influences their interactions today. In particular,
China views itself as a victim of Japan’s aggression and contends that Japan has still not
apologized or atoned for their wrongdoing in a manger sufficient enough for China to move on
and focus on developing a strong future relationship. The Western world tends to look at
China’s ongoing distrust and frustration towards Japan as somewhat misguided in light of
countries such as France and Germany who have been able to put similarly egregious behavior
behind them to develop strong mutually beneficial relationships. This mistrust continues to taint
every interaction between China and Japan today. This brief history of China-Japan relations
sets the stage for a discussion of their more recent history, to include the establishment of

3. Enderson 2
diplomatic relations in 1972 and the deterioration of this newfound friendship in the early 1990s
due to China’s nuclear weapons testing, Taiwan’s presidential visit to the United States, and
Japan’s realization that China was becoming financially independent enough that aid was no
longer a tool to be used for coercion.
While the first third of the book was dedicated to a concise history of relations between the two
countries, the second third of the book is devoted to a comparative analysis of the military
capabilities of the two nations. This section also further discusses the frightening possibility that
war could break out because of simple miscommunication between each country’s respective
branches of the military and government in the waters surrounding the disputed islands. Bush
then discusses the various features of the military institutions within each country and moves on
to discussion decision making in each nation, in particular the political climates within in
national security issues are handled and how the structure of their decision making processes
heavily impacts how a potential conflict would be handled.
The final third of the book focuses on what implications this relationship has for the United
States as well as possible solutions and courses of action for both China and Japan to follow. In
particular, Bush identifies four key areas which will have considerable impact on the future of
China-Japan relations; the security dilemma, security regimes and confidence building measures,
institutions and politics, and the U.S.-Japan alliance. Bush’s suggestions for restoring a positive
relationship between Japan and China heavily emphasize that each country should re-evaluate
their political institutions and implement reform and restructuring throughout.
Richard Bush does a tremendous job of providing a very detailed and thorough history of the
issues between Japan and China, well before discussion any specific issues or resolutions.
China, in particular, poses a challenge, especially when discussion political structure, decision

4. Enderson 3
making processes, and military capabilities as there is not the same level of transparency as with
Japan, which as a democratic country has much of its political inner workings on display.
Despite this difficulty, Bush provides a great amount of detail, even if some of it is only highly
educated speculation, and frames his conclusions as such. Bush is also able to focus not only on
specific issues between China and Japan, such as the Senkaku / Diary Islands, but also on how
those specific issues tie into the big picture, and how many of the specific issues he mentions in
the book are interconnected. For example, should China choose to relinquish the disputed island
chain to Japan, it could possibly send the message to Taiwan, that with enough patience,
independence is possible. Because of this larger scope of issues, Bush is able to address root
causes of these problems and to provide more analytical solutions that not only resolve
individual issues, but create a more cooperative and positive relationship between China and
Japan.
The major weakness of Bush’s writing is that with such a broad topic, and with so much of the
book devoted to history and organization of the two countries in question, it leave an entire
book’s worth of possible solutions, and he is unable to describe any solution in great detail given
the space and time restraints. For example, when addressing the security dilemma between the
two countries, he suggests that “Based on the trust engendered through repeated positive
interaction in air, naval and law enforcement operations, China and Japan should next seek to
address as much as possible their specific disputes in the East China Sea” (4121-25). He does
not delve into much detail when suggesting how to ensure that such positive interactions take
place, which is based on China and Japan coming to some type of resolution regarding how the
Senkaku / Diaoyu islands are to be handled. His proposed solutions seem rather obvious in part
because they are addressing such broad topics and such large problem areas as political structure.

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Bush also cites certain incidents repeatedly when addressing certain aspects of each nation’s
political structure, such as the senior Japanese Self Defense officer who submitted a
controversial article to a magazine contest and won which highlighted the difference between
public opinion and diplomatic policy.
The difficulty with writing a book addressing the security relationship between China and Japan
is that there is such a complex history that plays a major role in interactions today, extremely
complex, and sometimes convoluted political institutions for both countries which heavily
impact such a relationship, and then to present all of this information in a way that it is
understood in the Western world requires such detail that to cover it all thoroughly would require
not just one book, but a volume. Bush’s work covers the structure of both China and Japan in
great detail and perhaps a more detailed history with additional interactions, as opposed to just
the few sensitive issues that he suggests, would have offered a better demonstration of how
mutual interactions impact their security relations. Also, through no fault of the author,
significant interactions have occurred in recent months between China and Japan over the
Senkaku / Diaoyu Islands, as well as new political leadership in both countries, which have the
potential to redirect the course of their relationship up to this point. I would have like to have
seen a more thorough history of the two nations and less of possible solutions which were more
ideal than practical and vague in their possible execution.