Abstract: The emergence of China and Japan as economic powers next to each other is one of the significant present global developments. This contribution explores directions in Sino-Japanese relations through an analysis of evolving circumstances since the normalization of bilateral relations toward the second decade of the 21st century. The aim is to provide a short overview of the relations pointing at contemporary developments. The economic axis of the relations has been identifi ed as an increasingly promising one.

Keywords: Sino-Japanese relations, China, Japan, East Asia, U.S., 21st century