In his 2017 article for The Diplomat, Robert Dujarric examines how President Donald Trump’s unpredictable foreign policy could inadvertently encourage closer cooperation between China and Japan. 

Robert Dujarric argues that the ongoing dispute over the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands has escalated beyond Prime Minister Abe’s bilateral influence, driven instead by domestic political pressures in China and the nationalist sentiment in Japan. He contends that neither side’s leadership can unilaterally resolve the standoff without risking domestic backlash.

Dujarric examines China’s shift toward more welcoming FDI policies in 2011, highlighting regulatory reforms, establishment of free-trade zones, and incentives for high-tech and services sectors.