Op-Ed Contributors
New era in Northeast Asia
By Wu Huaizhong (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-06-01 07:48
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The ongoing changes in the power structure among the three countries is expected to lead to a changed international relationship in East Asia and will possibly stew conflicts and frictions in this region.
The rancor involving historical issues, territorial disputes and maritime rights, together with the long-controversial military and security alliances in the region, is likely to fuel potential conflicts and thus hamper the three countries' efforts to promote much-needed political and security conciliation and build mutual trust in the political and security arena.
The wide gap between China, Japan and the ROK in economic and social development is also expected to hinder deepened cooperation between the three countries.
The FTA being pushed forward by the three governments has also encountered domestic opposition.
Negative public opinion in China, Japan and the ROK about each other will weaken government efforts to promote trilateral cooperation.
Whatever the difficulties ahead, it will not change the bright prospects for irreversible tripartite cooperation.
Globalization, which has made regional and global issues more complicated, has highlighted the urgency and importance of widened cooperation between China, Japan and the ROK.
The consensus reached among the three countries on friendship, mutual trust and reciprocity will undoubtedly boost and consolidate all-round cooperation between them and enhance friendship among their peoples.
The achievements of the latest summit is particularly stellar given that it was convened at a time when the three countries have witnessed a series of fruitful results in various fields and trilateral cooperation has entered the second decade.
The Asian neighbors must view each other through a strategic and long-term perspective, a move that will help consolidate strategic mutual trust and political understanding at this important juncture.
Undoubtedly, the consensus reached at the summit will inject new energy into the ongoing economic revival in Northeast Asia and the establishment of an East Asian community.
It will also produce some far-flung and positive results as far as the future relationship between the three countries is concerned, and speed much-needed East Asian integration.
The author is a researcher with the Institute of Japanese Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
(China Daily 06/01/2010 page8)