Ex-Japan envoy to China seeks risk management in bilateral ties

TOKYO - Former Japanese Ambassador to China Hideo Tarumi, who created the concept of a "strategic and mutually beneficial" relationship for bilateral ties two decades ago, has urged Tokyo to refrain from relying too much on the slogan and focus more on risk management amid bilateral tensions.

Tarumi said in a recent interview with Kyodo News that the slogan has "lost substance," warning that "excessive mutual dependence" between the Asian neighbors could instead become a risk now that China is a major power that uses its economy as a means of pressure.