A very controversial topic in international relations has been: why are Sino-Japanese relations so controversial and how does this affect Japan's reaction facing a rising China. Relations have been very controversial due to security, economic and historical issues. These issues shape Japan's foreign policy, and there are many arguments regarding how Japan responds. For example, some argue that Japan fears China's growing power and increasingly assertive foreign policy and that, as a result, Japan has responded by strengthening its alliances with the United States and other maritime powers. On the other hand, many argue that Japan remilitarized to defend its own interests. I argue that Japan is remilitarizing and forming alliances with countries, such as the United States, that are also concerned about China's rise. This is done in order to protect their interests and prevent China from becoming a hegemonic power. The first argument asserts that Japan has strengthened its alliances with the United States and other maritime powers that are also concerned about China's rise (Grant 2012, 1). . These alliances are necessary because Japan is currently constrained by a sluggish economy, huge public debt, and a weak political system (Grant 2012, 1). They also adopted a new military strategy that involves more mobile defense forces. When it comes to security, Japan is seen as a declining power and China as a growing challenger. Thus, given the growing power imbalance between China and Japan, alliances, coupled with new military strategies, will become extremely important to Japan's security (Grant 2012, 2). On the other hand, many argue that Japan reacted to China's rise. ..... middle of paper ......Wiley Central Library. Internet. February 2014. Kokobun, Ryosei. “Sino-Japanese relations: from the “1972 framework” to the “2006 framework”” Sino-Japanese relations: rivals or partners in regional cooperation? Singapore: World Scientific, 2013. 169-92. Print.Takeuchi, Hiroki. “Sino-Japanese Relations: Power, Interdependence and Domestic Politics.” Asia-Pacific International Relations 32nd Series. 14.7 (2014): 7-32. Print.Wan, Ming. Sino-Japanese relations: interaction, logic and transformation. Washington, DC: Woodrow Wilson Center, 2006. Print. Weisenthal, Joe. "Ian Bremmer explains what's REALLY going on between China and Japan and the one problem no one is talking about." Business internal. Business Insider, Inc. January 24, 2014. Web. March 28, 2014. Westad, Odd Arne. “In Asia, ill will runs deep.” The New York Times. The New York Times, January 6, 2013. Web. February 27. 2014.