"CEAC Commentary" introduces news analyses andopinions in Japan on the concept of an East Asian
Community, but they do not represent the views ofCEAC as an institution.

March 26, 2007

The Japan 2008 G8 Summit and the Asian New Deal
By KAWATO Akio
As has been mentioned before, 2008 will be a year filled with significant events taking placearound the world. In December 2007 South Korea will have its presidential election, while
Russia will hold its general elections. Just a few months later, in March 2008, Russians will votefor a new president, as will the Taiwanese. Beijing will host the Summer Olympics in August,followed by the US presidential election in November.
Somewhere in the midst of all this (either June or July) Japan will play host to the G8 Summit.
Although taking the reins at the summit will pose a challenge for Japan, Japan should capitalize
on G8 as an opportunity to turn the world’s eyes to Asia.
What type of world can we expect a little more than a year from now? While plenty will hinge
upon whether US forces withdraw from Iraq or not, in any case President Bush will have only
six months tenure remaining in the Oval Office, so it would be in his best interests to leavebehind some concrete, positive results in Asia.
As for the new Russian president, this will be his first G8 Summit and he will be underconsiderable pressure upon his arrival in Japan. By that time, Russia will most likely be in thethroes of even greater inflationary pressure and the issue of the divvying up of political interests
will rear its ugly head immediately following the transfer of power, making for a somewhat
uneasy situation.
Whether China participates in the summit or not, China is a major player on the global stage and,considering that the Beijing Olympics will open right after G8, China will be more than eager tocooperate in helping the summit launch proactive initiatives regarding Asia.
Within the EU, the situation is difficult to foresee with the changing of the guard in France andthe UK, but since Asia became the top trading partner for the EU as well as the US in 2006, it isdoubtful that there will be any objection to discussing the problems that face Asia. Russia as
well, in its efforts to bring stability and progress to its territories in the Russian Far East, faces
pressing issues in its relations with Asia.
Today’s Asia is in a centrifugal mode. While East Asia is witnessing a rise in the standard ofliving, its citizens are taking a far more active interest in political matters, personally1reevaluating their respective governments’ post-war diplomacy. All East Asian democracies are
the pinnacle of populism, but within these platforms the extreme nationalism card is being
played by a number of political forces, and with different interests.
Despite the fact that the majority does not embrace extreme nationalism in Japan, its public
opinion reacts to harsh criticism upon them in China and South Korea. That in turn leads toChina and Korea rebuking Japan, starting a dangerous spiral of mutual agitation.
What is needed is to lessen the mutual feelings of suspicion between the peoples of Asia. And in
this the CSCE (The Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe in 1974, in whichalmost all European countries, the USA, Canada and the Soviet Union agreed upon themaintenance of the status quo in borders, inaugurating a row of confidence-building measures)
might serve as a good example. If Asia, the USA and the EU ensure the status quo in current
borders in Asia, it will create a centripetal momentum in Asia: a New Deal in Asia.
Pundits may object, saying that the countries in Asia are too diverse in their level of economic
development and social systems. However, the gaps in development level are quickly beingreduced. The behavior and mores of the younger generations are becoming more and moresimilar. True, we have the Taiwan issue and the North Korean issue. But contrary to somealarmist views all interested parties in these issues are interested in maintaining the status quo.
And there is an underlying cause above all others that bring the peoples of Asia together in theircommon vital interests. That is the principle of global free trade. As long as this principle is kept
all over the world, East Asian countries can peacefully prosper. Trade needs political stability
and maintenance of the status quo. Political confrontation emanating from egos of the “nationstates” is not to be welcomed.
The “nation state” is a product of the past. Countries used to fight with each other for moreterritories, seeking wealth and later a market for selling their goods. The “nation state” wasformed as a tool to collect tax directly from people and to recruit soldiers. The nation state cameto being in Europe, but today it is now being gradually dissolved there.
Asia should and can follow Europe now. Together with the US and the EU it could embark upona heroic undertaking: to create a viable system for security and well-being in Asia. The themefor the 2008 summit needs to be stated at the G8 Heiligendamm Summit in Germany, which willtake place in early June. Even if Japan begins talks on the theme now, it may be too late.
(This is the English Translation of an article written by KAWATO Akio, President ofJapan-World Trends, which originally appeared in “CEAC Policy BBS’’ on February
11-12, 2007 and then posted on the website of Japan-World Trends( http://www.akiokawato.com/en/world_trends/the_japan_2008_g8_summit_and_t.php ).)2