China and Japan are neighbouring countries, situated across the East China Sea, with both countries also maintaining significant statuses in Asia and around the world. The research on Sino-Nippon relations thus becomes ever so important and bears practical significance. Therefore, summarizing the lessons and revelations from the experiences of Sino-Nippon relations can be used as reference in promoting Sino- Nippon development and interactions.
China and Japan maintained their relationships by the very special format of “People’s Diplomacy” between the period of the independence of Republic of China and the normalization of Sino-Nippon relations.
During this period, the international situation and the political decisions in both countries affected the implementation and the contents of “People’s Diplomacy”.
Before the Cultural Revolution, the situation of “People’s Diplomacy” was about the accumulation and the progression of “People-leading, Government-passive”; “Specific Objectivity”, “Multilayeredness” and “Changeability” were its characteristics. However, the “People’s Diplomacy” was also limited by international and non-government conditions.
In the early phase of the Cultural Revolution, “People’s Diplomacy” was affected by CCP’s rebellion diplomatic approach. Aside of the characteristics mentioned above, it showcased the substances of “Interest-exchange” and “proxy-antagonism”. It further narrowed the limitations.
Due to lack of government support, Sino-Nippon relation was generally between public, semi-official or otherwise minor factors. Therefore, the target of relationship-normalization was unachievable.
At the same time, the infiltration of ideologies and confrontational sentiments dismantled the pillars of “People’s Diplomacy” and made it distant from the reality.
Due to the above mentioned factors, “People’s Diplomacy” was disrupted and restricted by “non-governmentality” and the “politic-priority” ideology before the normalization of Sino-Nippon relations. Surprisingly, the international situation led by the America and the internal alterations in both Japan and China are the crucial factors that change the course of the Sino-Nippon relations.
This paper reflects the features and limitations of “People’s Diplomacy” through the interaction and the relationship between China Communist Party and Japanese left-wing politicians during the early phase of the Cultural Revolution, and put it in the context of the main course of “People’s Diplomacy”, forming the related conclusions and innovations. It also tries to fill up the historical emptiness which was caused by the political situation and personal emotion, and bring out a clear and complete historical picture of this particular period.