Examining China and Japan’s Narratives as Diplomatic Tools: Competitive Nature and International Influence

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the new millennium, China and Japan have become eager to use narratives and discourses as diplomatic tools to manage external relations and enhance their international profiles. Although these trends have prompted research into the discourses and narratives of China and Japan, previous studies have not fully explored the competitive characteristics of the two states’ ideational visions. This article aims to unravel the nature and features of ideational competition between China and Japan by focusing on representative narratives in their diplomatic strategies. It argues that China has employed narratives as diplomatic tools for practical utility through integration with material capabilities, whereas Japan has disseminated narratives as part of its comprehensive external engagements, given its declining material capabilities. The narratives of China and Japan hold significant importance in the international system. Their effective use of narratives has a crucial impact on the western-dominated international discourse system, offering new perspectives to uphold an international order and global governance.