日本为何敢于对美国说“不”？解析其在中美博弈中的战略权衡

Core Viewpoint - Japan's government has clearly stated its intention to resist the U.S. efforts to form an "economic cooperation mechanism to contain China," emphasizing that it will not compromise its economic relationship with China for the sake of negotiations with the U.S. [1] Economic and Trade Relations - China has been Japan's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, with a trade volume expected to reach $370 billion in 2024, accounting for 20% of Japan's total foreign trade [2] - Japan's exports to China primarily consist of technology-intensive industries such as automobiles and semiconductor equipment, while China is a crucial source of rare earths and electronic components for Japan, with rare earths making up 60% of imports and electronic components 40% of Japan's supply chain [4] - Japanese automakers like Honda and Toyota derive 35% of their global profits from the Chinese market, indicating that a withdrawal from China could result in annual losses exceeding $40 billion for Japan's automotive industry [4] Strategic Resource Dependency - China controls 70% of global rare earth processing capacity, which is vital for Japan's electronics, high-end manufacturing, and defense industries [6] - Japan's precision instruments and core components are deeply embedded in China's manufacturing supply chain, creating an inseparable interdependence between the two nations [6] Japan's Refusal to Choose Sides - Japan faces significant economic constraints, with government debt totaling 300 trillion yen (approximately 300 billion USD) and a projected GDP growth rate of only 1.2% in 2024. The trade surplus with China, expected to reach $32 billion in 2024, is crucial for Japan's foreign exchange reserves and macroeconomic stability [10] - Despite being a U.S. ally, Japan adopts a pragmatic approach in strategic coordination, exemplified by its "differentiated execution" strategy in chip export controls, allowing exports of mature process chips to China to maintain its industrial competitiveness [10] - Japanese companies have invested over $1.3 trillion in China, creating 1.5 million jobs, with major corporations like Toyota and Sony pressuring the government to ensure stable market access to China [10] Global Implications - Japan's stance highlights the limits of alliance relationships when core economic interests are at stake, revealing inherent contradictions in unilateral alliance systems [11] - The deep economic interdependence between China and Japan demonstrates the resilience of globalized supply chains, suggesting that forced decoupling could lead to a lose-lose situation [11] - In the context of intensifying great power competition, smaller nations are increasingly adopting a "multi-balancing" strategy to maintain strategic autonomy [11] Future Outlook and Challenges - Japan's ability to maintain its "balancing act" will depend on effectively addressing strategic differences with the U.S. and structural conflicts with China [11] - Potential U.S. pressure through increased tariffs or security issues may force Japan to make difficult choices, while competition in sectors like semiconductors and new energy could pose new challenges to economic relations [11] - For China, continuing to expand openness and strengthen its advantages in key areas of the supply chain, particularly in rare earth processing and new energy markets, remains essential for navigating external changes [11]