I know that sometimes Shinzo Abe is hard to reason. However a true superpower does not think that simple. China puts a lot of effort to be able to destroy Japan in a conflict. This is understandable. I mean every nation tries to prove it's hard power.
But, and there is a big but, China also should have something to say about how things can go good with Japan. This is extremely important. Only hard power makes a nation barbarian. Look at how US image around the world changed after it's ME campaign.
You should have two sayings, one would be what advantages do they have when they are friends of China, and the other one should be what disadvantages would they experience if they do conflict with China. Do not just focus on destroying a nation. This is much more complicated than that.
Japan, Korea, Vietnam. Those are nations that are culturally closest to China. You should be able to call them brother without any hesitations since you're culturally very close. And there is this thing, if you can't become allies with countries that are culturally closest to you, you can't form alliances with the countries that are culturally distant. Than you won't be able to form the global network that you need in order to become an actual global power.
Do you know the strength theory of nations? This is extremely important. Because I know you will blame Japan for the ongoing problems between China and Japan and you will have some true points. However if Nation A is stronger than Nation B, then Nation A would make Nation B to do something that Nation B wouldn't do on itself.
If Japan's current ruling elite doesn't want friendlier relations with China and you want to prove China is stronger, then there is a great challenge for China. Make Japan a friend of yours which Japan wouldn't do on it's own. Then you will be able to prove that China is strong.
The issue is not about who is stronger, although i cannot agree with the Chinese brother you replied to, but i can understand his feeling.
The issue is about what the Japan is as a country or nation. from the history about thousand years, we learned that Japan as a country or nation was only kind to you when you were stronger or defeated it. Maybe you can have a Japanese friend, but Japan as a country be a good neighbor, never, especially when you were weak. although it is a good student when you were stronger.
Why our cultures are so closed, because Dynasty Tang in China was stronger and much advanced than Japan, so Japan sent Tang ambassador to China to learn culture, technology and all the advanced, especially when Tang defeated Japan in a war broke out in
663 AD in Korean Peninsula. the friendship between China and Japan was from 630 AD to 894 AD. To my honest, Japan was a good student.
In the history, the only time invasion to Japan from so called "China" was actually started by Yuan Dynasty which was ruled by Mongolian.
From Ming Dynasty, Japanese pirates were harassing coastal region for hundred years，
In Qing Dynasty, the sino-japanese war of 1894-1895 broke out, Japan conquered the TaiWan island
In World WAR II, Japan invaded China again and killed about 30million Chinese people.
besides, when the American opened the door of Japan with gun in 1854 AD, Japanese began to learn from the West. and when Japan become strong, then attacked Pearl Harbor in 1945 in World War II. when the USA defeated Japan again, Japan complied again and learned from the USA finally became ally of the USA.
By the way, Koreans will tell more about how many times Japan invaded them.
So history proved that, as a country or nation Japan cannot be believed if you are its neighbor especially you are weaker. what you can do is always stronger and be ready to defeat it. When you are stronger, Japan is a good student, when you are weak, Japan is a awful enemy.
Today, when Japan government is distorting history and beautifying aggression, who can guarantee the history will not be back? China need not prove its strong, Japan have to prove its harmless to its neighbors.
So make a Japanese true friend easier, make the Japan true friend impossible.
