In Abe-led Japan, a trend to slowly swing back to nationalism and a long-term nationalistic policy seems to be emerging. It is possible that such a policy might reject international pacifism but not include a move toward nationalist militarism. At the same time, the Japanese leadership seems to be probing quasi-independent foreign and defense policies, such as the Japan-Russia 2+2 arrangement, without calling for an altogether autonomous stance that is delinked from the US.

This combination - creeping nationalism and the search for semi-autonomous foreign and defense policies - could be worrying some US lawmakers because Washington wants Tokyo to become more engaged in international security and help maintain regional equilibrium within the context of the US-Japan alliance.

True, H.Res 121 may create some minor strains in US-Japan relations. For instance, tensions could arise if US Congress pressures the US leadership, specifically the State Department, to confront the Japanese leadership over the sensitive issues of the past. Also, the US leaders could leverage H.Res 121 as a restraint on the Japanese leaders' effort to swing back toward nationalistic policies. But the legislation will not cause a major change in US-Japan bilateral ties.

The US leadership will continue formulating and implementing a consistent policy toward Japan. Yet we could see some subtle shifts, including increased US criticism of Japanese leaders' moves that exacerbate tensions, as exemplified by the Washington's disapproval of Abe's Yakusuni visit.

Hopefully, H.Res 121 is not merely a symbolic gesture but a concerted effort on the part of US lawmakers to exert pressure on the Japanese leadership to resolve the "comfort women" and other sensitive historical issues. If the Japanese leadership does that, it could prompt regional leaders to work toward establishing a framework of reconciliation and preempt what appears to be an emerging structural crisis in Asia.

The author is a professor at China's Foreign Affairs University.