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"It should be remembered that while pending issues between South Korea and Japan may 'spark prosperity' depending on the 'political will' of the leaders of both countries, they could also 'spark collective downfall."

With a recent increase in FTAs (Free Trade Agreements) among South Korea, China, and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members, economic integration in East Asia is also coming under increasing discussion. South Korea, which hadn't been quite positive about integration of regional economies, has signed FTAs with Singapore, the EFTA (European Free Trade Association), the ASEAN, the United States, India, the EU (European Union), Peru, Turkey, and Columbia since its first FTA with Chile in February 2003, and is in the process of negotiating FTAs with Canada, Indonesia, China, Japan, and Vietnam. ASEAN members have agreed to establish an ASEAN economic community by 2015. And the ASEAN, South Korea, China, Japan, India, Australia, and New Zealand are in talks to sign the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) Agreement. On top of the ASEAN economic community and the RCEP, the South Korea/China/Japan FTA negotiations under way recently are expected to accelerate economic integration in East Asia. The TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) Agreement negotiation meeting held in Singapore in March 2013 aimed to establish free trade agreements among the Asia-Pacific countries, including Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and the United States. If and when South Korea and Japan joined the U.S.-led negotiations to sign the TPP Agreement, the TPP would emerge as one of the world's most important community of integrated regional economies.

The Significance of Economic Integration in East Asia

The primary purposes of economic integration in East Asia are to lay out legal and systematic frameworks for securing peace and prosperity in the East Asian region and to achieve economies of scale through the efficient use resources and the expansion of markets ensured by economic cooperation and development. Considering the importance of the East Asian region in world economy, it isn't hard to imagine that the economic integration of East Asia with these objectives will bring about positive results, increasing trade and investment with countries outside the region and stimulating international trade. As economic interdependence increases, it can give member states within the region an opportunity to work together to cope with issues and crises and resolve international disputes.

However, despite its necessity, establishing integrated regional economies across East Asia still remains at the stage of discussion. There are obstacles to economic integration in East Asia, such as long-standing territorial disputes in the region over the Kuril Islands, the Senkaku Islands (known in Chinese as Diaoyu Dao), and the Spratly Islands, as well as issues concerning Japan's controversial textbooks and sexual slavery for the military. In the case of Europe, despite deep-rooted hostility resulting from the two world wars, France and Germany built 'harmony and trust' based on apology and repentance, which led to the successful establishment of the community of peace and prosperity known as the EC (European Community). Can such a community of peace and prosperity be also built in East Asia in the near future?

Prerequisites for Economic Integration in East Asia

Before economic integration can be pursued and achieved successfully in East Asia, a region that, unlike Europe, doesn't share the same culture and a sense of community, there are many issues that need urgent resolution. First of all, the disputes over history and territory that have caused confrontation and distrust among the nations concerned need to be resolved. The main cause of such confrontation and distrust was emotional nationalism, and breaking from it requires, more than anything else, that citizens and political leaders alike open their mind and commit themselves to building peace and prosperity in East Asia.

Secondly, the disputes over territories and territorial waters in East Asia, which come down to disputes over energy resources, also need to be resolved. The countries concerned engaged in disputes over oil field development in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea are, after all, vying for energy resources. When a nation tries to secure and develop energy resources, its two major interests, economic development and national security, are at stake. Securing and utilizing reliable energy resources is also a common challenge faced by East Asian nations. Therefore, increasing the efficient and reliable use of energy resources through mutual cooperation is the only way to ensure that all can benefit from it and contribute to the sustainable development of East Asian economy.

Thirdly, national security has never been more important as a political topic since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. in 2001. Peace and prosperity are interconnected and essential to forming and developing communities because peace is essential to sustainable prosperity. In the case of Europe, the continued existence of the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and other collective security systems has played a decisive role in the successful operation of the EC. If the EU's successful development is any guide, East Asian nations might also need to initiate a standing system for security and cooperation before they can achieve successful economic integration in the region.

Fourth, in the case of the EU, the sharing of the same Christian culture facilitated the integration of European economies, whereas in the case of East Asia, the religious and cultural diversity is interfering with the formation of a sense of community essential to the development of economic integration in East Asia. However, I don't think that a sense of community is found in mono-cultural society only. In my opinion, establishing a 'multi-cultural community' is also possible as long as people have a mature and open mind that respects and accepts diverse and different cultures. In today's increasingly global world, there is a need for international cooperation to tackle issues of energy, environment, and terrorism, and it is already calling for multi-cultural communities. To build an East Asian community as an open cultural space, nothing is more important than resolving issues that give rise to historical and cultural conflicts in the East Asian region. In particular, to resolve historical distortion and conflicts, I suggest that 'East Asian History Research Society' (tentative name), an organization of private-sector experts, should be organized and operated instead of the government doing the job itself. To this end, the Northeast Asian History Foundation and related scholars, and NGOs will need to keep up with their activities and make their share of contributions.

What is the Solution to the Crisis?

For the successful economic integration in East Asia, nothing is more important than restoring political trust among South Korea, China, and Japan. The Park Geun-hye administration of South Korea is emphasizing the Korean Peninsula Trust-Building Process which requires laying out a road map and legal/systematic frameworks designed to establish a community of peace and prosperity based on trust and cooperation.

The recent security crisis resulting from North Korea's nuclear tests and missile launches, along with the long-standing historical and territorial disputes rooted in Japan's colonial rule, is an obstacle to economic integration in East Asia. In fact, such political feud over history is what makes some people skeptical about the realization of economic integration in East Asia.

However, as the German poet Frederich Holderlin noted, in a time of crisis, solutions to the crisis also present themselves. To effectively build peace and prosperity in East Asia, a region of long-standing historical feud, East Asian nations are called to make the wise decision to use a number of issues they are facing in facilitating 'reconciliation and cooperation' instead of fueling confrontation and conflict. It should be remembered that while pending issues between South Korea and Japan may 'spark prosperity' depending on the 'political will' of the leaders of both countries, they could also 'spark collective downfall.