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An Attempt to build the Political Framework of China, Japan, and South Korea: Analysis of China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Summit
Yumi Shimomukai Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies Waseda University

Outline

Introduction Overview of Regionalism in China, Japan, and South Korea (CJK) Tripartite Partnership in CJK China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Summit Campus-Asia as a project of China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Summit Conclusion
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Introduction
Regionalization
Societal-driven Bottom-up process De-facto Micro-level process that stems from regional concentrations of interconnecting private or civil sector activities.
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Introduction

Regionalism
Policy-driven Top-down process De-jure Public policy initiatives, such as a FTA or other state-led projects of economic co-operation and integration that originate from inter-governmental dialogues and treaties

Security

Politics Economy Culture, Civil society etc

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Overview of Regionalism in CJK

World GDP in 2010
China 9% Japan 9% ROK 2%

Overview of Regionalism in CJK

Ideological Issues among CJK

CJK 20%

Others 31%

lack of recognition of historical events the textbook controversy the Prime Minister's visits to Yasukuni Shrine

EU 26%

US 23%

Source : World Bank

Economic cooperation is essential for CJK

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Overview of Regionalism in CJK

Influence of Ideological Issues for CJK South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao refused to arrange a three-way side meeting with the Prime Minister Koizumi during the East Asia Summit (EAS) in Kuala Lumpur due to his Yasukuni Shrine visit. (Dec. 15 2005, The Japan Times) The city of Nanjing has canceled a commemorative China-Japan judo event scheduled for this week in the wake of Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura's controversial remarks about the 1937 massacre there carried out by the Imperial Japanese Army, sources 7 said. (Feb. 28 2012, The Japan Times)

Overview of Regionalism in CJK

Recognition among CJK CJK Joint Opinion Poll (Jan. 12th 2012, The Asahi Shimbun) Ideological differences continue to remain as issues between CJK despite these three countries sharing the common recognition that cooperation among CJK is of significant importance.

Tripartite Partnership in CJK

China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Summit

The First CJK Trilateral Summit

Regionalization The emergence of civil society and the middle class

Regionalism China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Summit CJK FTA

Date Place

Dec. 13 2008 Fukuoka, Japan

Participants Japan: Prime-minister Aso (as the chairman) China: Premier Wen Jiabao Korea: President Lee Myung-bak Topic Progress and prospect of tripartite partnership Global finance and economy The international situation
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The difference between Trilateral Summit and summit meetings

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China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Summit

The Second CJK Trilateral Summit Date Place October 10, 2009 Beijing, China

China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Summit

The Third CJK Trilateral Summit Date Place May 29-30, 2010 Jeju, South Korea

Participants China: Premier Wen Jiabao (as the chairman) Japan: Prime-minister Hatoyama Korea: President Lee Myung-bak Topic 10th anniversary of the launch of the trilateral cooperation in 1999 Academic institutions North-Koreas situation
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Participants Korea: President Lee Myung-bak (as the chairman) China: Premier Wen Jiabao Japan: Prime-minister Hatoyama Topic Establishing the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat in the Republic of Korea in 2011 North Korea situation
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China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Summit

The Forth CJK Trilateral Summit Date Place 22 May 2011 Tokyo, Japan

China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Summit

The Characteristics of CJK Trilateral Summit The contents of the subject for discussion are comprehensive. The main topics of each summit depends on the situation of CJK. The specific goal CJK FTA As a political framework, time of each summit is short because of ideological differences.

Participants Japan: Prime-minister Kan (as the chairman) China: Premier Wen Jiabao Korea: President Lee Myung-bak Topic Disaster Management and Nuclear Safety

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China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Summit

Discussions As regionalism, this summit is a soft framework. The contents of discussions are not in-depth. Never discussed in terms of ideological differences

Campus-Asia as a project of ChinaJapan-ROK Trilateral Summit

a scheme for exchange among universities in the three countries as people-to-people exchange Previous Prime Minister of Japan Hatoyama had been initiated at Japan's proposal. To expand people-to-people exchanges throughout long-term success of Campus-Asia

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Conclusion Thank you for your attention.

Economic cooperation is essential for CJK Ideological differences among CJK China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Summit is the big step to build a political framework of CJK CJK Trilateral Summit is still a soft framework as regionalism.

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