Japan does not choose to confront drastically with China like the United States and many of its allies, because it does not want to "break" relations with this neighboring country.

Earlier this year, realizing that Covid-19 could not pass quickly, the Japanese government postponed President Xi Jinping's first trip to Tokyo since 2008.

Now, as China moves more aggressively in the region and imposes new security laws on Hong Kong, Tokyo is cautious about the opposition's call for the possibility of canceling Xi's visit.

Although many close allies have expressed their tough views with China, especially the United States, Japan still pursues a balanced policy in relations with China, when taking into account the economic, military power relationship.

"Japan is undoubtedly in a dilemma," said Narushige Michishita, director of the International Studies and Security Program at Tokyo's National Policy Research Institute.

For other great powers, this neutrality is increasingly difficult to apply.

The US has passed sanctions on Chinese companies and officials, and rejected Beijing's claim to the South China Sea.

Beijing restricts imports of Australian goods and threatens to retaliate against any country that punishes it.

The relatively gentle response to China has shown Japan's long-standing foreign policy, often in a tendency to avoid conflict or direct attacks on other countries.

Not long ago, China and Japan, the second and third largest economies in the world, broke the relationship, when the two leaders, Prime Minister Abe and Chairman Xi had a historic handshake at the association.

Now, when Beijing faces many "concealment" allegations that make the world miss the golden opportunity against Covid-19, as well as friction with a series of countries, Tokyo does not want to create tension with Beijing, according to Jeffrey Hornung.

Regarding Hong Kong, Japan did not join the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom in its initial statement criticizing the new security law.

Yoshihide Suga, chief of the Japanese Cabinet Office, said Tokyo had "strongly requested" Chinese vessels "to stop approaching Japanese fishing vessels and quickly left our territory".

Many agencies in the Japanese government have expressed concern with some Chinese activities.

However, Japan recently abandoned plans to buy the Aegis Ashore missile defense system of the United States, leaving some worried that Tokyo would be "exposed" to North Korea and China.

But these discussions are new in the early stages.

"Although the cancellation of the Aegis Ashore could put Japan in a more dangerous position, if Japan takes this opportunity to equip itself with other capabilities, the results could be worrisome for China,"

Economically, earlier this year, Tokyo passed a law restricting foreign investment in industry, considered by the Japanese government to be important for national security.

"China's economy is recovering while many other countries are still very bad. China is in a good position to buy companies in many other countries, so the Japanese government needs to be cautious about industries.

However, Japan still doesn't want to push things too far.

Japan, which has imposed a ban on entry to nearly 150 countries due to the pandemic, is now considering accepting visitors from several Asian countries, including China.

"Several years ago, Japan did not seem to have a chance to become a mediator, because the relationship between the US and China has become very bad," Govella said.