By Shannon Tiezzi
Japan and China are close to finalizing a liaison mechanism — but it hinges on how Japan commemorates the end of WWII.
Since China-Japan relations began a slow thawing process with the meeting between their top leaders last November, officials on both sides have had one clear goal in mind: finalizing a consultative mechanism that will allow leaders to communicate in the event on a maritime or aerial emergency. Such a maritime and aerial consultative mechanism would be a crucial step toward preventing and managing crises, particularly in the disputed region surrounding the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands. Today, a Chinese general told Xinhua that he believes such a mechanism is on the verge of being launched.
China and Japan agreed in principle to a maritime consultative mechanism all the way back in 2012, but crises in the relationship prevented much progress until quite recently. Talks held in Qingdao in September 2014 and in Japan in January of this year represented the first steps toward a concrete arrangement in over two years. The stated goal is to have the mechanism in place by the end of this year.
Read the full story at The Diplomat