Progress in Korean-Japanese relations

By Bernard Rowan

The historic statements about comfort women and reparations by President Park and Prime Minister Abe last month promise a new era of cooperation between Korea and Japan. The two nations also should develop other avenues of cooperation. When many events challenge regional and international stability, South Korea and Japan should continue to serve as agents for positive change and stability in international relations. Several recent events bode well for their relations in some key respects.

First, Japan and South Korea have agreed to coordinate their response to North Korea's missile launches and other provocations. With the United States, information-sharing and joint military exercises to uphold defense readiness and the capacity to assure the security of both nations and the region stands as an important advance. South Korea and Japan must see past old but still vivid memories to a future of military cooperation for regional defense. North Korea fails to drive a wedge between allies for democracy and peace.

Also important is Korean-Japanese cooperation in peaceful development of the seas. Both countries have expressed willingness to explore cooperative exploration of the mineral-rich Benham Plateau, part of the Philippine Sea east of Luzon. Officials from the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology and their Japanese counterparts are determined to provide scientific expertise to the Philippines and to share their research results. Since the plateau is a volcanic ridge, both nations hope to gain valuable information related to earthquakes and the Earth's tectonic plates.

While South Korea and Japan have their famous dispute over Dokdo, and while neither claims any part of the plateau and nearby Spratly Islands, I think this cooperation should become a new pattern. And I mean for not just South Korea and Japan but for all regional players. The model is that joint pursuit of claims, joint projects of scientific and oceanic exploration, and joint sharing of benefits should in time eclipse the limits of current international arrangements. International cooperation opens new forms of relations, trade, and cooperation. The world sorely needs all of them.

Many think positive-sum relations are idealistic. However, positive economic development and human advancement need a win-win context. For Korea and Japan to join forces in exploring the seas will benefit all concerned. This action among middle powers opens possibilities the Philippines couldn't yet carry out on their own.

Third, the recent meeting of Korean, Japanese and Chinese education ministers is another valuable development. Publishing official books sows the seeds of truth and dishonesty in international understanding and opinions. So much remains at stake over historical conflicts. The writing about interrelations among three global populations and their ancestor peoples impacts regional harmony. This effort of the ministers can encourage peaceful and respectful education. It needs wider domestic support. It's a good sign that Japan's depiction of actions against Korea and China in the 20th century will be a focus of their efforts. Let's hope for more articulation beyond the agreement.

Let's also hope the three countries will put down on paper the scope of their differences. Of course it helps to note areas of agreement too. I think the effects of official texts on nationalism, public opinion, misunderstanding, conflict and cooperation are all too underrated. We need to counter the vulgar nationalisms of biased writing and build an even more literate global public through critical thinking on the boundary conditions of national, regional, and international histories and related projects.

Finally, the positive momentum between South Korea, Japan, and China toward free trade should continue. It extends the energy needed for peaceful regional relations. So many firms in each country create and compete in developing and marketing 21st century goods and technologies. Even if the agreement cannot prevent all conflicts over market openness and protection of national industries, it should provide a means to address them and to create boundaries for common trade. An FTA also will yield a global impetus for the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

We shouldn't wax too romantic over these developments. The coin of common interests can flip over time to conflict. That depends on a myriad of causes at play in Korean-Japanese relations. However, Park Geun-hye should continue to urge these positive national, public and private, efforts. Their prudence in a time of the North's internal problems and overall decline and China's rise will serve to uphold South Korea's continued advance as a global power for peace and democracy. They also will help to solidify a part of Park's legacy.

Bernard Rowan is associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University, where he has served for 22 years. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University. Reach him at browan10@yahoo.com.