China-Japan talks a silver lining

This is why the mechanism is so badly needed. It is the vital first step in defusing a potential crisis. According to Japanese media, the mechanism will include meetings at different levels, direct communication links between military leaders, and most important of all, direct talks between the captains of ships and the pilots of aircraft in close encounter.

Of all China's foreign relations, Sino-Japanese relationship, although important, is nevertheless the most vulnerable one because of history issue and territorial dispute. Such vulnerability is most acutely felt in defense sector. Exchanges between Chinese PLA and Japanese Self Defense Force are never in full swing. Whenever the relations at government level turned sour, the mil-to-mil relations came to a stop.

Since the Diaoyu Islands dispute flared up, the two militaries have had virtually no interaction. Nobody can imagine what will ensue should a Chinese and Japanese military aircraft collide in the ADIZ, as what happened between a Chinese J-8 and an American EP-3 in 2001.

It remains to be seen how the overall relationship might improve after President Xi Jinping shook hands with Prime Minister Abe at the APEC meetings in Beijing. But the ongoing consultation gives people hope that the free fall in Sino-Japanese relationship has been arrested and things are moving in the right direction.

The author is an honorary fellow with Center of China-American Defense Relations, Academy of Military Science.