But if conflict does erupt, the cost is far higher. When the territorial dispute between Japan and China over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands flared anew last year, Japanese auto exports to China plummeted 80% in just three months.
但贸易流相当脆弱。当然，国与国的经济关系带来了互赖关系，减少了冲突的风险。但如果冲突爆发，代价也会大得多。去年，日本和中国就钓鱼岛问题重燃领土争端，结果日本对华汽车出口在三个月内暴跌80%。