China & World Economy / pp.66-79, Vol.13, No.6, 2005
Northeast Asian Community Building: What Needs to Be Done?
Yunling Zhang
[Abstract] The aim of the Northeast Asian community building is to create an environment for living together peacefully and for realizing prosperity through cooperation. Economically, a community will integrate regional economies and share great interests for common prosperity. Politically, a community will stabilize the region with trust and cooperation. In terms of security, a community will realize the lasting peace of the region. The three economies of China, Japan, and the ROK account for a vast majority of Northeast Asia s regional economy. China and the ROK are two key players in the Northeast Asian community building. China-ROK cooperation will be helpful for China-Japan relations that now appear to be in a difficult situation. Northeast Asian economic cooperation has developed into a multi-layered structure both in institutional and non-institutional ways. In order to build the Northeast Asian community, those three countries must first improve and make three close bilateral relationships. However, Northeast Asian community building should not just include China, Japan, and the ROK. The DPRK, Mongolia, and also Russia should be engaged as early as possible. Northeast Asian community is a vision and also a dream that needs great efforts to be realized by both a good spirit and real actions.
[Key words] economic integration, Northeast Asian community, three bilateral relations, parallel cooperation movement.
[JEL code] R11, R58, F29
I. Introduction
People have started to talk about the community building in Northeast Asian region. What does the term community building mean? People all seem to agree that due to the great diversity and the great culture of the Northeast Asian region, a community does not mean a European type regional organization with a central power managing the regional affairs. The aim of the Northeast Asian community building is to create an environment for living together peacefully and for realizing prosperity through cooperation.
Economically, a community will make the regional economies highly integrated and share great interests for common prosperity. Intra-regional trade and investment flow are well developed through liberalization and cooperation arrangements. The objective of the Northeast Asian community is probably not to establish a super regional organization, but to make the regional economic activities performed by rules and standards through agreements. If necessary, the regional institutions can be utilized for consultation and coordination (Kim, 2004a). By a community, the region should develop a spirit of cooperation aimed at solving the common issues like environment, transportation, energy etc. together and also help the less developed economies to catch up.
Politically, a community will make the region stable and trustworthy through cooperation. Northeast Asia has shared ties in history and culture, but also has had grievances and open conflicts. Based on the spirit of community, countries in the region should develop a good neighbor policy and to solve their differences through consultation and cooperation. Diversity is the reality of the region. Differences are not the reason any regional member should be left out of the community building. Political respect and tolerance should be a cornerstone for Northeast Asia. Mass media and new information especially help to create shared culture values in the modern society. The real cooperation of three major countries, i.e. China, Republic of Korea (ROK), and Japan is essential in leading the region toward a community. Leaders of these three countries should establish a formal cooperative mechanism both for normal exchanges and emergent meetings.
In terms of security, a community should realize the lasting peace of the region. Northeast Asia is still divided by two means: the division of Korean Peninsula, as well as security architecture. Community building should first help to resolve the confrontation on Korean Peninsula and also to develop an integrated security framework for all members. This may be based on the existing six party talks if it can move forward with success. A community with security should also develop the spirit for solving the remaining or emerging problems through consultation and cooperation.
The Northeast Asian community represents not only a unique regional organization, but also a comprehensive framework combining multi-layered cooperation mechanisms supported by formal agreements, cooperation programs both on the central and local government levels, exchanges of civil societies, as well as some possible institutional establishments. It is too early to predict that the Northeast Asian region will be governed by an integrated regional organization with all countries participating (Zhang, 2004). Yes, it is true that suspicion prevails concerning the Northeast Asian community building since there are so many obstacles on the road. By calling the community building, the first thing we need is to cultivate a spirit and value of the regional cooperation and trust, not just between governments, but also between different societies and among different peoples. The community is a process that gradually deepens and expands.
II. Increasing Economic Integration
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III. Progress of Economic Cooperation
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IV. East Asian Cooperation Context
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V. Vulnerable Political Trust
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VI. China and the ROK Should Work Together
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