Why has Southeast Asia, through the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, had 40 years of diplomatic cooperation on common goals through its alliance?
These were questions grappled with in a one-day international conference sponsored by the JoongAng Ilbo yesterday in Seoul.
The J-Global Forum brought together academics, journalists and policy makers from Japan, Korea, China and Southeast Asia to discuss the feasibility of establishing a Northeast Asian regional community. The experts gathered were nearly unanimous in saying that historical tensions in the region will be difficult to overcome.
The current talks over North Korea¡¯s nuclear program may be one way to make progress, said Yoichi Funabashi, the editor-in-chief of Japan¡¯s Asahi Shimbun. ¡°The six-party talks offer a critical chance to lay the framework for a multilateral and regional path to a new symbiosis between the United States and East Asia,¡± Funabashi argued, saying that the road to regional integration can be found through practical tasks.
He also urged continued economic integration. ¡°We should forge free trade agreements with each other,¡± said Funabashi.
Chairman Hong Seok-hyun of the JoongAng Ilbo urged journalists and academics to play a role in overcoming the destructive nationalism that fuels military growth and is a major obstacle to real cooperation in the region.
¡°Historical tension and distrust have made it difficult for Northeast Asia to institutionalize multi-lateral cooperation on commerce and security issues,¡± said Hong.
¡°The nationalism of Korea, China and Japan in this century must be transformed into an ¡®open¡¯ nationalism that pursues national interests while upholding universal principles and promoting regional cooperation.¡±
Wu Jianmin, the president of China Foreign Affairs University, said that the region needs to follow the example and leadership of Asean, an alliance that has managed to overcome debilitating nationalism, and has also become home to the Asean + 3 process, in which Japan, Korea and China participate.
¡°We all feel comfortable with Asean,¡± Wu said.
Pointing out that China¡¯s own economic success came by embracing globalization, he said that China had no interest in dominance or hegemony. ¡°There is no alternative to peace and prosperity,¡± he said.
Moon Chung-in, professor of political science at Yonsei University, said that misdirected nationalism remains an obstacle. ¡°It is this unintended coalition of mutually hostile national forces in China, Japan and South Korea that has obstructed institutionalized economic and security cooperation,¡± said Moon.
