Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's nationalistic policies will "not go far", as his country's economic interests are intertwined with the world's, especially in Asia, a veteran diplomat says.

Abe's counter-China policies will boomerang, said Wu Jianmin, 74, executive vice-chairman of the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy, a think tank.

Wu made the comments in an interview with China Daily in late December, with Abe proceeding with hawkish policies during his one year in office.