Part of me has kept hope that this is the driving force that pushes my country to tightening trade agreements with China. There was some initial activity in that direction with the processor materials trade between Japan, South Korea and China but I was hoping more would come out of that.

I get it is a very difficult call in the short term, those are our two biggest trading partners, but I hope that Japan realises the longterm prospects with China are much more favorable. That much foresight is not something Japanese politicians are typically known for however. Much more likely we bend the knee until our own economy is entirely buried.