North Korea nuclear threat key concern at historic North East Asia Defence and Security Forum
The nuclear threat from North Korea and newly-heightened tensions between South Korea and Japan were the focus of historic talks in Sydney today involving officials and scholars from seven countries.
China, Japan, Mongolia, South Korea, Russia, the United States and Australia were all represented at the inaugural North East Asia Defence and Security Forum, led by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) and the Department of Defence.
All countries except China sent government officials and leading academics. China sent a representative from the think tank attached to its foreign ministry.
"I think relations between Japan and China are as tense as they have been for a generation and, somewhat unexpectedly, there are also rather poor relations between South Korea and Japan," ASPI executive director Peter Jennings said.
"Politically the region is on edge. There is a real need now for dialogue and calmness to bring us back to a normal situation."
This is the first time the countries have been involved in official multilateral talks involving government representatives and academics.
Russia, China wary of US pivot towards region
Delegates from Russia and China expressed concerns about America's so-called "pivot" to Asia, while Japan and Korea spoke of their desires to ease regional bilateral tensions.
Yang Yi, secretary general of China's Institute of International Studies (CIIS) in Beijing, said he hoped the US will play a more constructive role in the region.
American delegates told the forum the US is committed to Asian economic growth and political stability and defended the "pivot" strategy as a continuation of long-held policy to engage in the region.
Recent tensions between the governments of South Korea and Japan over the future of Japanese defence policy flared over into a meeting with participants from the two countries.
"Koreans have perceived some provocative remarks by the political leaders in Japan, whether intentionally or not, of reminding Koreans of the past atrocities that we have experienced during the imperial Japanese colonisation period and also during the Pacific war," said Korean delegate Dr Jin Park, head of the Asia Future Institute in Seoul.
"I think Japan should exercise self-restraint and not give misunderstanding to the Korean side that Japan is going back to earlier policies."
Japanese delegates declined to comment. Delegates at the meeting said Japanese officials emphasised their position that the country had no aggressive intent.
Mr Jennings said it was important to build strong relations between the countries.
"There is a lot of historical enmity and I think for the countries of North Asia it is difficult for these types of meetings to be held in each other's territory," he said.
North Korea a common concern
Professor Alexander Vorontsov from the Russian Academy of Science, one of the world's leading experts on North Korea, said the discussions were "useful and helpful".
"Different points of view and different knowledge has been exchanged," he said.
All countries were concerned about North Korea.
China and Russia have historically been the only significant supporters of the rogue North Korean regime that continues its nuclear build-up despite global condemnation.
This year, China supported the United Nations Security Council resolution on sanctions against North Korea.
China, Japan, Mongolia, South Korea, Russia, the United States and Australia were all represented at the inaugural North East Asia Defence and Security Forum, led by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) and the Department of Defence.
All countries except China sent government officials and leading academics. China sent a representative from the think tank attached to its foreign ministry.
"I think relations between Japan and China are as tense as they have been for a generation and, somewhat unexpectedly, there are also rather poor relations between South Korea and Japan," ASPI executive director Peter Jennings said.
"Politically the region is on edge. There is a real need now for dialogue and calmness to bring us back to a normal situation."
This is the first time the countries have been involved in official multilateral talks involving government representatives and academics.
Russia, China wary of US pivot towards region
Delegates from Russia and China expressed concerns about America's so-called "pivot" to Asia, while Japan and Korea spoke of their desires to ease regional bilateral tensions.
Yang Yi, secretary general of China's Institute of International Studies (CIIS) in Beijing, said he hoped the US will play a more constructive role in the region.
American delegates told the forum the US is committed to Asian economic growth and political stability and defended the "pivot" strategy as a continuation of long-held policy to engage in the region.
Recent tensions between the governments of South Korea and Japan over the future of Japanese defence policy flared over into a meeting with participants from the two countries.
"Koreans have perceived some provocative remarks by the political leaders in Japan, whether intentionally or not, of reminding Koreans of the past atrocities that we have experienced during the imperial Japanese colonisation period and also during the Pacific war," said Korean delegate Dr Jin Park, head of the Asia Future Institute in Seoul.
"I think Japan should exercise self-restraint and not give misunderstanding to the Korean side that Japan is going back to earlier policies."
Japanese delegates declined to comment. Delegates at the meeting said Japanese officials emphasised their position that the country had no aggressive intent.
Mr Jennings said it was important to build strong relations between the countries.
"There is a lot of historical enmity and I think for the countries of North Asia it is difficult for these types of meetings to be held in each other's territory," he said.
North Korea a common concern
Professor Alexander Vorontsov from the Russian Academy of Science, one of the world's leading experts on North Korea, said the discussions were "useful and helpful".
"Different points of view and different knowledge has been exchanged," he said.
All countries were concerned about North Korea.
China and Russia have historically been the only significant supporters of the rogue North Korean regime that continues its nuclear build-up despite global condemnation.
This year, China supported the United Nations Security Council resolution on sanctions against North Korea.
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