HFRC hosts conference on peace in Northeast Asia

Posted on : 2010-11-19 14:37 KST Modified on : 2010-11-19 14:37 KST
The forum’s focus is on creating regional balance for political and economic stability 
 South Korea
South Korea

By Yi Yong-in, Staff Writer and Choi Won-hyung

 

Experts from South Korea, the U.S., China, and Japan gathered in Busan to discuss plans for historical reconciliation in Northeast Asia and the establishment of a peace community at the 6th Hankyoreh-Busan International Symposium. The symposium, jointly organized by the Hankyoreh Foundation for Reunification and Culture (HFRC) and Busan Metropolitan City, is taking place from Thursday evening through Friday at the Nurimaru APEC House in Busan on the theme, “Northeast Asian Community: Reconciliation, Peace, and Cooperation.”

In his opening address Thursday, foundation chairperson Lim Dong-won, referring to the six-party talks to resolve the North Korea nuclear issue, said, “There is no need for us to negotiate due to fear, but that does not mean we should fear negotiations.”

Lim also said, “I am looking forward to positive diplomatic efforts from the Barack Obama administration following the mid-term elections, and active diplomacy from the South Korean government.”

Kang Sang-jung, head of the Contemporary Korea Research Center at the University of Tokyo and a presenter in the first session on the theme of “Historical Reconciliation in Northeast Asia: Issues and Outlook,” noted, “West Germany’s Ostpolitik held the perspective that it was necessary for the sake of German unification to build peace in [European] regions outside of Germany.”

“An East Asian version of Ostpolitik could be formed through cooperation between South Korea and Japan, and if it is to happen Japan needs to clearly address issues from its history,” Kang added.

In an interview with the Hankyoreh, Kang, who has spent many years examining ideas for an East Asian community, characterized the current political situation in East Asia as “individual countries waging reconnaissance campaigns for economic cooperation and national security while the U.S. and China compete fiercely for hegemony.”

“South Korea and Japan need to move beyond ‘bilateral relations’ where they form alliances only with the U.S., and create a multilateral network of national security and peace,” Kang added.

According to Kang, South Korea occupies the most difficult position within the U.S.-China battle for hegemony, since its relations with North Korea are at stake in security terms and its relations with China are at stake in economic terms.

“If a security and economic alliance is formed among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, this will draw strong objections from North Korea and China,” Kang said.

Kang said the South Korean government should “refer to West Germany’s Ostpolitik, which created a regional peace regime that transcended the national framework and brought about unification.” In his view, building such a regime in East Asia will be possible when Japan and South Korea play roles similar to those of Germany and France in Europe.

The symposium continues Friday morning with its second session, “Northeast Asian Peace Community: Issues and Outlook.” The afternoon will see the third session, “Shared Growth in Northeast Asia: Prosperity and Maritime Cooperation,” and the fourth session, “Northeast Asian Economic Community: Issues and Outlook.”

  

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