Japan’s relationship with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) began before formal diplomatic relations were established. After normalization, Japan and China entered a honeymoon period in which their relationship resembled a quasi-alliance, rooted in their shared distrust of the Soviet Union as a common adversary. These developments highlight the strategic importance that both Japan and the United States placed on their relationship with China. Although Japan suspended its aid program to China, it was reluctant to fully participate in broader sanctions. The old China hands in Japan held a special sentiment toward mainland China.