Kansai, the western economic hub of Japan, finds itself in a difficult position to completely break away from economic reliance on China. Despite political tensions and shifting global dynamics, the economic relationship between Kansai and China remains complex and integrally woven. This reality underscores Japan's broader dilemma, illustrating the intertwining of political aspirations with economic realities.

In Japan, this issue combines political, economic, and cultural perspectives. The "decoupling" from China is an aspiration driven by political concerns around sovereignty and security, but the economic realities make it challenging. The Japanese public and business sectors care deeply about this balance, reflecting a broader tension in Japanese society between maintaining economic stability and asserting Japan’s independent influence.

In the US or EU, a similar issue would be the debate around economic dependence on China. Both regions have a considerable trade relationship with China and are navigating similar issues around balancing their economic dependencies with national security concerns, though the approach differs. While the US has been more aggressive with tariffs and trade wars, the EU tends to work towards balancing relations.