China Coast Guard vessels had to warn off Japanese fishing boats and patrol boats that had illegally entered China's territorial waters around the Diaoyu Islands on Jan 27.

Japan has been repeatedly provoking China with such intrusions.

If unchecked, tensions over the Diaoyu Islands, over which China holds irrefutable sovereignty, could easily become a flashpoint for conflict. Yet, Japan has shown little interest in ratcheting down the tensions as it has developed a penchant for using the disputes to fan domestic right-wing sentiment and strengthen its alliance with the United States.

Washington has stated on a number of occasions that the Diaoyu Islands fall within the scope of the US-Japan alliance, which has emboldened Tokyo to chance its arm with the aim of putting Beijing on the back foot.

Apart from the East China Sea disputes, Japan has also begun to interfere in the Taiwan question as its officials repeatedly claim that "a Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency".

Last month, Japan claimed that an eight-day computer-simulation military exercise did not target any specific area or country. Yet a Jan 4 report from the Japanese news agency Kyodo News, citing government sources, said China was presented as the enemy in the exercise.

Those who sow the wind will reap the whirlwind. Japan should recognize the common interests it has with its neighbor, and the close economic and people-to-people ties that have been formed, far outweigh the differences.

Despite all the spats between the two countries, China has always tried to keep Sino-Japanese relations on the right track. This intention was clearly shown at the meeting between the leaders of the two countries in November in San Francisco.

During that meeting, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, said his government had the desire to mend bilateral ties with China. If that is the case, Tokyo should do more to improve bilateral ties, rather than setting more obstacles in the way.

Last year marked the 45th anniversary of the conclusion of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between China and Japan. Relations have come a long way since that milestone moment, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples and contributing to the prosperity of the two countries and the stability of the region and beyond. The principles and direction for bilateral interaction codified in the treaty are as relevant as ever at this point in time, when relations between the two sides are at a critical crossroad.

Tokyo should reset Japan's engagement and interaction with China on the basis of peace and friendship, recognizing that the two countries share common interests and common opportunities. It should work with Beijing to advance regional integration and reinforce the regional industry and supply chain system based on the two sides' comparative strengths so as to make the chains more stable and smooth for the benefit of both countries and the region as a whole.