THE WORLD, CONNECTED
DIRECTIONAL RELATIONSHIP · 2026

China → Japan

This score represents China's relationship toward Japan. The reverse direction is calculated separately and shown alongside it.

CHN → JPN-18Competitive95% evidence confidenceBroad sourced evidence
JPN → CHN-27Competitive9-point directional gap
SIX-COMPONENT MODEL

Current component scores

Component values run from −100 to +100 and are combined with the published weights.

Diplomacy+10

5 documented factors produce the +10 diplomacy assessment.

Why this score?
  1. +20Leader contact supports gradual improvement
    Baseline rule · 2015

    Official reporting records leader and ministerial contacts during an improving but still difficult relationship.

  2. +10Multiple high-level and maritime dialogues
    Baseline rule · 2015

    The countries maintained leader, foreign-minister and maritime consultation channels during 2015.

  3. -15History and maritime friction remain
    Baseline rule · 2015

    Official records describe persistent political tension alongside improving contacts.

  4. -15Fukushima water dispute escalates
    Active event · 2023

    China strongly opposes Japan's ocean discharge decision, producing a continuing diplomatic and economic dispute.

  5. +10Monitoring agreement moderates Fukushima dispute
    Active event · 2024

    Multiple consultations produce a monitoring and sampling arrangement without eliminating China's underlying objection.

Economic+13

4 documented factors produce the +13 economic assessment.

Why this score?
  1. +35Bilateral trade threshold
    Baseline rule · 2015

    Reported trade activates the absolute methodology route using the latest observation available for this year.

  2. -15Fukushima water dispute escalates
    Active event · 2023

    China strongly opposes Japan's ocean discharge decision, producing a continuing diplomatic and economic dispute.

  3. +8Monitoring agreement moderates Fukushima dispute
    Active event · 2024

    Multiple consultations produce a monitoring and sampling arrangement without eliminating China's underlying objection.

  4. -15Annual methodology 1.1 recalculation
    Annual recalculation · 2026

    The current component replaces the 2015 quantitative threshold or time-bounded structural package with the evidence applicable in the selected year.

Disputes-77

5 documented factors produce the -77 disputes assessment.

Why this score?
  1. -50Diaoyu/Senkaku sovereignty dispute
    Baseline rule · 2015

    Both governments maintained incompatible sovereignty positions over the islands and surrounding waters.

  2. -40Maritime control remains contested
    Baseline rule · 2015

    China's official position treats Japan's administrative actions as unilateral coercion affecting Chinese territorial interests.

  3. +15Maritime crisis-management consultations
    Baseline rule · 2015

    The two sides continued negotiations on a maritime and air communication mechanism to prevent escalation.

  4. -10Fukushima water dispute escalates
    Active event · 2023

    China strongly opposes Japan's ocean discharge decision, producing a continuing diplomatic and economic dispute.

  5. +8Monitoring agreement moderates Fukushima dispute
    Active event · 2024

    Multiple consultations produce a monitoring and sampling arrangement without eliminating China's underlying objection.

Societal+10

2 documented factors produce the +10 societal assessment.

Why this score?
  1. +20Substantial societal exchange
    Baseline rule · 2015

    Official reporting records expanding tourism, youth and local exchanges despite political tension.

  2. -10Fukushima water dispute escalates
    Active event · 2023

    China strongly opposes Japan's ocean discharge decision, producing a continuing diplomatic and economic dispute.

CHANGE SINCE 2015

-15 in 2015 → -18 in 2026

The change is generated from sourced events and frozen scoring rules, not retrospective editorial adjustment.

ACTIVE EVIDENCE

Events affecting the current score

-7

Fukushima water dispute escalates

China strongly opposes Japan's ocean discharge decision, producing a continuing diplomatic and economic dispute.

+5

Monitoring agreement moderates Fukushima dispute

Multiple consultations produce a monitoring and sampling arrangement without eliminating China's underlying objection.

Interpret with care

This analytical score is not an objective fact, endorsement or prediction. Confidence reflects evidence coverage, while incomplete or unavailable observations remain explicit. Differences below 5 points are treated as practical ties rather than a meaningful ranking.

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