After the birth of New China, the Japanese government, under U.S. control, pursued a policy of hostility towards China for a long time. In 1952, urged and pressured by the U.S., the Japanese government concluded a so-called ?Peace Treaty? with the Taiwan authorities and established ?diplomatic relations? with it, creating ?two Chinas? and serious obstacles in the way of normalization of relations between China and Japan. In the 1950s and 1960s, guided by the policy of giving ?priority to non-governmental diplomacy and using it to promote state relations? which was initiated by Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai, ?people-to-people diplomacy? between China and Japan developed vigorously, thereby laying the groundwork for normalizing relations between the two countries. The Japanese government at the time, met with increasingly strong criticism and firm opposition at home for following the United States in adopting policies detrimental to Sino-Japanese friendship. In the 1970s, China?s legitimate seat in the U.N. was restored and Nixon?s China visit opened the door to the normalization of Sino-U.S. relations. The rise of China?s international status generated great impact on Japan, and demand for resumption of diplomatic ties between Japan and China by all the political parties in Japan including the ruling party as well as people of all circles gained ever greater momentum. Under these circumstances, China put forth three principles for the resumption of diplomatic ties with Japan, that is, 1. There is only one China in the world,i.e. the People?s Republic of China. The Government of the People?s Republic of China is the sole and legal government representing the Chinese people. Any absurd fallacy advocating ?two Chinas?, ?one China, one Taiwan? or ?one China, two governments? will be firmly opposed. 2. Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People?s Republic of China, and it has already been returned to China. The Taiwan question is purely China?s internal affair and brooks no external interference. The Chinese Government is resolutely opposed to the theory that ?the status of Taiwan remains to be determined? and any conspiracy for Taiwan?s independence will be firmly opposed. 3. The ?Taiwan-Japan Treaty? is illegal and invalid and must be abrogated.


On September 25 1972, Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, Foreign Minister Masayoshi Ohira and Chief Cabinet Secretary Susumi Mikaido came to China for a visit. Premier Zhou Enlai held talks with Prime Minister Tanaka at several sittings and reached agreement on a host of important issues relating to the normalization of relations between China and Japan. On September 29, heads of the two governments signed the "Joint Statement of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Japan" which states that, as on the date of publication of this statement, the abnormal state of affairs between the two countries, which has hitherto existed, is declared terminated. The ?Japanese side is keenly aware of Japan?s responsibility for causing enormous damages to the Chinese people in the past through war and deeply reproaches itself?. ?The Chinese Government declares that in the interests of friendship between the people?s of China and Japan, it renounces its demand for war indemnities from Japan?.


In the Joint Statement, the Japanese Government acknowledges the government of the People?s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China; the government of the PRC reaffirms that ?Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People?s Republic of China. The Japanese Government fully understands and respects this stand of the Chinese Government and adheres to its stand of complying with articles 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation?. The two sides decided upon the establishment of diplomatic relations as of 29 September 1972 and would exchange ambassadors as speedily as possible. The two sides also agreed to conduct negotiations with the aim of concluding a treaty of peace and friendship and government-to-government agreements on trade, navigation, aviation, fishery etc.. Both sides were determined to establish durable ties of peace and friendship on the basis mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other?s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence. (Note: Paragraph 8 of the Potsdam Proclamation of 26 July 1945 by China, the United States and the United Kingdom on demanding Japan?s surrender stipulates, ?The terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carries out and Japanese sovereignty shall be limited to the islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku and such minor islands as we determine?.