Sino-Japanese Relations in a Trilateral Context

"Origins of Misperception might be the first academic book in English that systemically discusses Sino-Japanese relations in the China-Japan-U.S. trilateral dynamics. Zhang Yun sets forth this original and powerful study by tracing the evolution of strategic thoughts in China and Japan and analyzing the implications for decision-making. His basic arguments are supported by a massive number of case studies, document surveys, and interviews. This volume will undoubtedly attract considerable attention and stimulate much debate among those who are concerned about international relations in East Asia." (Wang Jisi, President of the Institute of International Strategic Studies, Peking University, China)

This book explains the increasingly turbulent Sino–Japanese relations since the 2000s by innovatively investigating the formation mechanism of mutual misperception deeply rooted in China-Japan-U.S. trilateral structural dynamics.This book explains the increasingly turbulent Sino–Japanese relations since the 2000s by innovatively investigating the formation mechanism of mutual misperception deeply rooted in China-Japan-U.S. trilateral structural dynamics. The political and security relationship has been increasingly deteriorating against the high interdependency between the world’s second and third largest economies. More ironically, both sides have also shown the intent and made efforts to improve bilateral ties. The author systematically conducts a focused comparison of the evolution of the Sino-Japanese mutual perceptions and policies toward one another during the past decade and a half. Empirically, Yun Zhang closely examines five case studies that provide insights to IR students and scholars and policy makers on how misperception and mistrust have formed, replicated, and intensified.