International Workshop: Preserving the Long East Asian Peace

PRESERVING THE LONG EAST ASIAN PEACE:
China-Japan relations and the role of the United States in East Asia 

International Workshop
Beijing, China
28–30 July 2024

The Toda Peace Institute and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) organised their second international workshop in Beijing, China, from 28–30 July 2024. The workshop brought together scholars and policymakers from the region to explore areas of common ground, reach a better understanding of differences, and identify creative ways to manage tensions and build peace and stability in both the short and long term. This followed an initial Toda Peace Institute workshop with CASS held in Tokyo in November 2023 and will be accompanied by the development of specialized research clusters. These clusters will take forward positive peace proposals in selected areas.

International relations appeared to be improving in East Asia following the summit between President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden in California in November 2023. However, more recent developments have been adverse, exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine. Is the region entering uncertain waters, or are we witnessing the beginning of a gathering storm? What can be done to steer toward safer waters?

A long peace has persisted in East Asia since 1979. China has experienced a remarkable, peaceful rise, and no interstate wars have occurred in the region during this time. However, questions arise as to whether this long peace can be sustained. Can the tensions between the U.S. and its allies and China be peacefully managed, given the lack of agreement on applicable international law and international order rules? In light of the history of the postwar East Asian regional order, is the role of the United States positive or negative for regional peace? What are the common interests and differences between China and Japan concerning the regional order, and what are their national strategies for preserving the long peace? What are the prospects for building a cooperative security order that might contribute to a broader community of common destiny?

The workshop covered the following topics:

1. The history and legal basis of postwar East Asian regional order

2. Conditions for success of the long East Asian peace

3. The role of the United States in East Asian security

4. The role of China in East Asian security

5. Developing a cooperative security framework for Northeast Asia

6. China, Japan and Korea and their neighbors in the region

7. China-Japan-Korean national strategies: Common interests and differences

8. Building peaceful relations: A community of common destiny in Northeast Asia

A Summary Report of the workshop will be published.

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