The Problem of Relations with China in the Discourse of Japan's Political and Economic Elites (1991–2023)

The relevance of the topic is related to the dilemma faced by Japanese elites amid China's growing political power. In the political dimension, they see China as a threat to national security, while in the economic dimension it continues to be Japan's most important trade partner. The paper analyses the relations between the political and economic parts of the Japanese elite, the similarities and differences in their discourses towards China in 1991-2023. The author concludes that for a long time there has been a conflict of interests in the discourses of the country's political and economic elite, which was resolved by separating the political and economic relations between Japan and China. With the need to “reduce China dependency” in order to ensure the country's economic security and diversify its trade relations, discourses of the elites towards China are now becoming more similar.