2012年中日关系没有显出邦交正常化40周年的友好气氛，反而因日本政府执意“购买”钓鱼岛而陷入“政寒经冷”状态。事件的起因是日本内政“绑架”外交，它反映了日本在东亚地区关系结构变化中实力趋于下降，政府对国内和周边以至东亚地区事务的掌控能力不足、斡旋手段不够，因而常常采取强硬态度。因而中日关系在近期可能在“政冷经冷”状态中逐步调整。
Due to the Japanese government's insistence on "buying" Diaoyu Islands, the Sino-Japanese relations in 2012 have sufferec a "politically frigid and economically cold"period instead of friendly atmosphere of the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations. The cause of the incident is that Japan's domestic affairs have held hostage. The Japanese government's ability to control the domestic and neighboring as well as East Asia Affairs has weakened, and often has to take a tough stance because of its declining power in the East Asian region. Thus, the Sino-Japanese relations in the near future are likely to continue the "politically frigid and economically cold" state and are expected to adjust gradually.
