Futuristic ties in NE Asia

By Bernard Rowan

Progress often occurs through two steps forward and one step back. At times, the number of steps forward does not keep pace with the steps back. Opinions matter and leaps can supersede prolonged periods of stasis.

These thoughts come to mind in reading about the recent meeting of foreign ministers from South Korea, China, and Japan. I wouldn't begin to call it a leap forward, but we need to encourage the impulse of cooperation here. What a wonderful purpose their meeting evinced. Asia will continue to be a big key for present and future national, regional and international development and progress. It was, and remains, high time for perhaps the three most powerful nations in the region to collaborate further, much further in fact.

Sensibly, the partners agreed to begin where they best could. The low-hanging fruit for their tree of collaboration included promises to work on public health, investment issues and disaster management. They promised to work on a summit of their nations' leaders. China invited all concerned to a World War II commemoration later this year.

Other matters were avoided. I'd like to have seen discussion of ways to ease two-way disputes over various islands, territorial waters and airspace. The possibility for a shared project to encourage developing other regional nations also comes to mind. Much work on the environment, including clean energy, and trade agreements remains to occur. They couldn't do everything in one meeting, I suppose.

Lest we wax romantic, I saw Chinese plots in stressing history and World War II. This part of the discussions disappointed. Japan continues to find reactionary positions on several cultural and sensitive historical matters popular for too great a part of its population. That won't change but overtime. Bogging down on history could threaten the whole house of cards. I sincerely hope the Chinese commemorations don't scapegoat Japan.

After all, the Chinese didn't bring up their own history peccadilloes with the Northeast project. They didn't discuss their efforts to assimilate minority group traditions and histories to the Chinese nation or Greater China. I didn't like the playing on anti-Japanese sentiment, which abounds for good reason in China and Korea. But if all we mull over is sex slavery and Nanjing, will we find the impetus to grasp a brighter future? I doubt it.

Historic hatreds and hostilities matter. False history books matter. But history and education also occur through actions for peaceful, progressive relations. The two steps forward come from the latter. The backwards step of history in this meeting won't go far. Today's friend can become an enemy. Let the old enemies try friendship.

The work of the ministers will occur through trilateral diplomacy and the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat. China, South Korea and Japan have much more to gain by developing regional policies for political stability, economic cooperation and environmental sustainability. Your nation's leadership on Asian trilateralism could change our world for the better.

I don't think there is enough reason to delay the national leaders' meeting too long. Then it will take three more years to get the next crew together. China wants better atmospherics between the nations, but that sounds to me like an excuse. There's plenty of positive goodwill among the three countries, and the issues dividing them are fewer and of less importance than those which unite them.

I'd have liked to see all three ministers more openly encourage participation in the China-led development bank. Of course, China could share leadership and control of the bank. Also communicate with transparency and global responsibility to undercut suspicions about greater purposes. But the hemming and hawing shows American influence in a bad way.

For Japan and South Korea, the power of the United States must have perspective. The United States is a key ally, and both nations respect those relations. The United States cannot control the future of Asia. The "pivot" won't stand for it. Security guarantees and alliances are important but not enough for Asian development and advancement. Asian nations must chart autonomous paths, over U.S. concerns at times, to develop a regional accord that matters and lasts.

I also don't think the three countries should use this connection to focus too much on North Korea. Mind you, Pyongyang would love it, but there already are multiple bases for engaging the North. There's greater reason to develop cooperation among the status quo powers of Asia. Bide time for the North Korean leadership to mature. Avoid obsessing over which face Kim Jong-un will show tomorrow. The three nations should agree to deter North Korean provocations and development of nuclear threats.

Here's hoping the promise of this meeting will see more steps forward in the months to come. Asia's future will impact the world's future. It's time to see a new model of trilateral cooperation. Put history in its proper place! How will you make the present and future?

Bernard Rowan is assistant provost for curriculum and assessment, professor of political science and faculty athletics representative at Chicago State University, where he has served for 21 years. Reach him at browan10@yahoo.com.