"CEAC Commentary" introduces news analyses andopinions in Japan on topics related to regional
cooperation and integration in East Asia, but they do
not represent the views of CEAC as an institution.

June 23, 2011

“We-feeling” of East Asian Countries as Seen in
the Wake of the Great Earthquake
By ISHIGAKI Yasuji
It goes without saying that to achieve a full recovery from the extraordinary natural
disaster and the nuclear accident, Japan needs international support, in addition to her own
efforts in coming months and years over a long-term for rehabilitation and reconstruction. Whileconsiderable assistance has been extended by the U.S., based on the Japan-U.S. alliance, weshould bear in mind an extensive generous contribution extended to us by all the member
countries of ASEAN+3 and the East Asia Summit in accordance with the capacity of therespective countries.
Assistance at times of natural disasters has been called for as one of the pillars of what
we call "non-traditional security" cooperation, which is expected to play a significant role inregional cooperation for building an East Asian Community. It should be particularly noted that
despite there exist a number of difficult bilateral problems including territorial issues between
Japan and East Asian countries, Korea and China sent their rescue teams to Japan immediately
after the earthquake and engaged in relief operations respectively in Miyagi and in Iwate.
Indonesia, Singapore, India, Australia and New Zealand also dispatched their rescue teams
while others provided or proposed assistance in the form of various relief goods and otherneeded resources. Those countries might have just promptly acted as members of a community
as offering helping hands is a natural deed whenever any other member suffers from a great
disaster, even when they have some bilateral questions in dispute. Thus, the concerted efforts
shown so admirably by all those countries to help Japan could be regarded as deriving out of thesense of regional solidarity or “We-feeling.”
Along with the above-mentioned bilateral activities for rescue and support, notable
multilateral operations were also observed. For one thing, it was noted that the consultative
mechanism of Japan-China-ROK was functioning well in the midst of a disaster. Amid themoves for cancellation and postponement of several diplomatic events, Japan-China-ROK
Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Meeting was convened in Kyoto as previously scheduled on March
19. During that meeting, Foreign Minister MATSUMOTO Takeaki expressed profound gratitude
to China and Korea for dispatching disaster rescue teams as well as contributing relief materials.
Foreign Ministers of the three countries agreed that they would not only strengthen theircooperation in disaster management and nuclear security, but also accelerate their preparation
for Japan's successful holding of the Fourth Japan-China-ROK Trilateral Summit in 2011, to1

continue a wide range of Japan-China-ROK cooperation and in early 2011 to establish apermanent secretariat for the trilateral cooperation in Korea.
For another thing, the framework of dialogue between Japan and ASEAN is graduallydeveloping to an action-oriented framework. More specifically, at the urgently convened
ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting on April 9 in Jakarta, guidelines for ASEAN's support ofJapan's recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake were declared in the chairman'sstatement. The guidelines would require the ASEAN Secretariat to play the role of a coordinatorin adjusting the relief activities carried out separately by each member country of ASEAN inorder to deliver assistance more effectively in accordance with the needs of Japan. Foreign
Minister Matsumoto, in appreciation for the support provided by ASEAN countries,
expressed his willingness to further strengthen the partnership with ASEAN Secretariat.
It should be added, however, that on another harder note, Japan was strongly urged by
Korea and China to provide more quickly information on the radiation concerning the nuclear
accident in Fukushima. On the other hand, Russian combat fighters entered the Air Defense
Identification Zone of Japan in the aftermath of the disaster and a Chinese airplane attempted an
unusually close approach to a Maritime Self-defense Force ship of Japan. All those seem toindicate that the countries involved have not changed their tough attitudes towards Japan as far
as the “traditional security” aspect is concerned.
(This is an English translation of the article written by Mr. ISHIGAKI Yasuji, Delegate forJapan to AALCO and former professor of Tokai University, as his personal view which
originally appeared on the BBS “Hyakka-Somei” of CEAC on April 13, 2011).

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