Op-Ed Contributors

Toward an East Asian community

By Wang Yusheng (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-06-08 07:46

The recent meeting between leaders of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) held in Jeju, ROK, marked the beginning of a new era of cooperation in East Asia. Agreements reached on several issues at the meeting will undoubtedly inject new energy into the region's economy and help revive it and build an "East Asian Community" (EAC).

The meeting achieved four important things. First, it strengthened mutual political trust among China, Japan and the ROK. It showed that the leaders of the three countries are determined to strengthen cooperation and coordination, consolidate mutual trust and share a more prosperous future. The triangular bond will thus provide a solid political foundation for future international cooperation.

Second, the main objectives and strategic directions of an EAC were spelt out more clearly at the meeting. The Trilateral Cooperation Vision 2020, which maps out a blueprint for the next 10 years, has elevated the triangular ties to a new level.

The emphasis on cooperation was demonstrated clearly too. And the special attention paid to mutual trade is a big step toward building a free trade area.

Third, the decision to set up a secretariat is an important step toward establishing a more stable mechanism for cooperation, which will ensure that the ideas shared by the leaders of the three countries are turned into more concrete action.

Last, the joint declaration on the situation in the Korean Peninsula, confirming that its denuclearization was crucial to long-lasting peace, security and prosperity for all, has done much to stimulate cooperation.

Speaking at the meeting, ROK President Lee Myung-bak said the three countries agreed, while discussing the recent sinking of an ROK warship, that negotiations and dialogues were essential to preserving peace and stability in East Asia. Besides, the three countries talked about the possibility of better communication and dialogues on defense and other security related issues, which would help defuse tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The first decade of tripartite cooperation revolved around the framework of 10+3(ASEAN plus China, Japan and ROK). Although Japanese leaders then laid too much emphasis on strengthening their alliance with the United States, some important progress was made in regional cooperation.

The turning point came in Japan in December 2008 when the first meeting among Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul was held and the principles for future tripartite cooperation were agreed upon.

The changes in Japanese politics in September last year, too, helped forge closer ties among the three countries. The ruling Democratic Party of Japan laid more emphasis upon Japan's "Asian identity" and viewed East Asia as its main stage of performance. That was not surprising because as a powerful group an EAC is expected to exercise more influence in the region as well as the rest of the world.

Of course, an EAC will not be without its share of negative factors such as Cold War mentality and certain other historical problems. But the most challenging of the problems would be US influence in the region and the tension on the Korean Peninsula.