Japan-U.S. war offers lessons for Beijing and Washington

Stormy ideological competition raises risk of conflict

20211124 Pearl Harbor

Events from 80 years ago should steer Chinese President Xi Jinping, top, and U.S. President Joe Biden away from what could be a disastrous road. (Source photos by AP and Xinhua/Kyodo)

HIROYUKI AKITA, Nikkei commentator

TOKYO -- Japan will soon mark the 80th anniversary of its attack on the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor in the Pacific on Dec. 7, 1941, local time.

The country had not intended to confront America directly. But with tensions heating up between the two nations over China due to affairs such as the Manchurian Incident in 1931, Japan's policy options were eliminated.

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