The Second Policy Plenary Meeting was
held in the Main Conference Room of the National Institute for
Research Advancement (NIRA) on July 26, 2004. The discussion was
held with six sub-themes on the basis of the fundamental awareness
of the issue "Is an East Asian Community Really Necessary
and Possible?" Specifically, the sub-themes were 1) Will
we be able to incorporate China into this concept, or will we
be incorporated therein by China? (opening statement by Council
Member YAMAZAWA Ippei), 2) What is "East Asia" and what
is its geographical scope? (Council Member HATAKEYAMA Noboru),
3) How will Japan position therein the importance of the Japan-US
relationship? (Council Member SOEYA Yoshihide), 4) Can the Japan-China
and Japan-Korea relationships overcome differences in perceptions
of history? (Council Member OE Hiroshi), 5) Ultimately, will an
East Asian Community serve Japan's national interests? (Council
Member KAKIZAWA Koji), and 6) Any other things which should be
discussed on this occasion.
The Council Members had lively discussions and the following comments
were made: "Politically and economically, China already has
an indivisible and intimate relationship with East Asia; therefore,
transcending the question of incorporating China or being incorporated
by China, the concept of how to get along well with China is important
to us." "After having set the community's goals such
as peace and prosperity, we must deductively define the geographical
scope of 'East Asia'." "The geographical scope of 'East
Asia' should be formed evolutionarily through a wide range of
accumulated cooperation." "'An East Asian Community'
must be compatible with the Japan-US alliance, and in the event
that is not the case, we must have the courage to reject such
a community." "There is nothing beyond some kind of
package deal that will resolve the history issues." "In
the course of promoting the concept of an East Asian Community,
the work of redefining Japan's national interests will become
necessary."
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