When the system of one-party rule, which started in 1955 collapsed, Japan entered the longest period of
political turbulence
seen since the end of World War II. The prominent features during this period were frequent changes of cabinets with a new generation of politicians stepping onto the forestage of the
political arena. The assumption of power by Mr. Hashimoto and his cabinet signifies conclusion of the process of the political power shifting from the old generation to a new one. However it is by no means the end of the rivalry among political parties. The struggle for political power is expected to be more tense in the future. The Hashimoto
government will focus its attention on Japan's economic re-bounce domestically. Highlighting Japan' s independence in its foreign policies, the government will continue to maintain its alliance with America while attaching importance to developing its relations with other Asia-Pacific countries. No major readjustment is expected to be made in its China policy since the favourable factors for furthering the Sino-Japanese relations still outnumber those unfavourable ones. However, owing to the changes taking place in both internal and external conditions, the bilateral relations between China and Japan will grow amidst cooperation as well as frictions between the two sides in the future.