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Session III : "Japan in Asia"
1. The Gist of Professor Shiraishi's Keynote Presentation (the full text is attached)
（1）In perceiving the process of formulation of the region in East Asia, the region has realized the gradual interdependence. The distinctive concepts of 'regionalization' and 'regionalism' in East Asia are being realized, with the initiative of Japan's economic success and her direct investment to neighbors. (Hence, the Europe and East Asia facilitate their own regional integration based on different logics.)
（2）As for transformation of regionalization process, it is considered that the manifestation of market failures in the East Asia region has led to the needs to complement the regional efforts. It is also regarded that activities and inter-linkages among individual enterprises rather than intergovernmental relations are more important for the development of the regional integration. This means that there still exist the conditions not yet to be prepared for further realization of the regional integration of common political wills through East Asia. Considering Japan's inability to play the third party in trilateral relations among the United States, China and Japan, it is to be suggested that Japan should build the relationship with China in accordance with the relationship between China and the United States. If not, the political conditions for the regional integration as East Asian Community based on the regionalism would not be satisfied.
（3）In examining the possibilities of establishing a community within East Asia, 'The Middle Class East Asia' as a driving force seems to be emerging in the process of regionalization within East Asia. The middle class within the region seems to begin to share life styles, ways of thinking, the dreams for their region, cultures of consumption and the others. With this regard, the question rises as to how to integrate Japan into it and how to extract the energies from it. Integration of Japan into it is considered to be within her interests, which may lead to building the foundation for establishing the community. Implications for this are:（1）the significance of regionalistic initiative (such as Chiang Mai Initiative) is to be emphasized; and （2）it is considered to be better for us to use the 'middle power' concept.
（4）Conclusively, Japan should be a part of the region, reconsider her position in the region, re-describe her self-portrait, and finally, redesign the future of Japan.
2. Salient Points of Comments of the Three Lead Discussants
（1）Comments by Professor Kim
（1）Trilateral relations based on Japan-U.S. Alliance and Korea-U.S. Alliance are to be the basis for the international security system and the system for maintenance of the regional peace and stability.
（2）It seems to be often misunderstood that reunified Korea will stand for China, not Japan and the United States. It is considered that it is high time for Japan to appeal her amicable attitude toward Korea.
（3）Japan should establish a nation-wide committee to build a consensus on Japan's political wills.
（4）Japan should make efforts to relieve the fears of neighbors that Japan might become a large threat.
（5）Japan should take initiatives in terms of humanity or comprehensive security assurance. Japan can take initiatives particularly in economic cooperation, economic security and environmental security.
（6）After the reunification of Korea, it is considered that Korea might have a political option on where to stand. Therefore, it is requested that Japan should support the reunification in the long run, and also support the Republic of Korea in a short run. Then, people in Korea would feel thankful for Japan's assistance.
（2）Comments by Professor Wattanayagorn
（1）The question of what Japan in Asia can do is a matter of concern for the most of Asian countries. At the same time, it is really up to Japan's decision.
（2）Asian countries are in divergent conditions in terms of economics, capacities, and the environment. Therefore, it might cause misunderstandings if Asia is generalized.
（3）Yet, there exist similarities and commonalities among Asian countries. For example, governments are powerful. Many strategic security issues are originated in old geographical settings and old geopolitical conflicts. Japan needs to understand such issues which seeks power.
（4）Americanization, Japanization, Sinofication - three forces should work for institutionalization, which has not yet been realized. This respect should be a problem of our regionalization. The Japan's positive attitude toward the institutionalization is to be highly evaluated.
（5）ASEAN can play an intermediary role to facilitate communication among Far East Asian countries, yet it still has the instability on Indonesian affairs. Japan should understand the circumstances within ASEAN, and play the role to assist.
（6）It is requested that Japan should not work negatively against the achievements made by ASEAN and the others including the United States, China, the Republic of Korea, and the United Nations. They decided to collaborate primarily on economic matters.
（3）Comments by Professor Zhang
（1）As for rising regionalism in East Asia, a couple of formal proposals for security cooperation are raised. Discussions on political cooperation, linkage, and commitments to facilitate regional stability in the future are already initiated.
（2）A couple of problems on cooperation in East Asia can be seen; how far the regional cooperation goes?; what the achievements are?; the role of the United States; Japan's ambiguous intentions for FTA.
（3）As for the China-Japan relations, the substantial Japan-China cooperation is essential to achieve to build substantial system in Asia. Both Japan and China should see each other as complementary, rather rivalry.
（4）The reason that China attempts to build the amicable relationship with ASEAN is just because it is strategically easier for China to build the system for East Asia with pursuing the interests of China herself.
（5）China has already initiated her integration process earlier than Japan. Japan should also make her efforts to integrate herself to the region.
（6）It is questioned why Japan should positively be involved in code of conduct for North Korean affairs. And how?
3. Free discussions by the Floor
（1）It should be understood that the movement to build the regional system actually exists, which does not necessarily mean that we should realize the regional integration like EU.
（2）It might be high time for us to reconsider the self-portrait of Japan. It is to be searched for the ways for Japan to be benefited from regionalism.
（3）It is considered that positivity should be assured, rather than negativity dominates the‘middle power' theory in practice.
（4）Japan as a‘middle power' does not suit the real situation. For Japan to be a‘middle power' could be interpreted that Japan tries to escape the responsibility as a great power.
（5）It is insisted that, in considering a‘middle power,' behaviors are the most important rather than terms.
（6）It is considered that regional integration and the security alliance with the United States can stand together based on the experience of the United Kingdom.
4. Panelists' Responses to the Questions and Comments
（1）Responses by Professor Kim
（1）It is considered to be difficult to judge on the historical experience of Korea.
（2）It is reported that the young generation in the Republic of Korea looks at China rather than Japan in terms of economic prosperity.
（3）It is reckoned that the impacts of mass media need to be reconsidered.
（4）Once China becomes a great power in the region, Japan would have no option for where to stand in terms of history and politics. The Republic of Korea would have options. Therefore, Japan needs further elaborations to build amicable relations with both China and Korea.
（5）The United States presence in the Republic of Korea is essential for regional peace and stability, and effective for a threat from the North Korea.
（2）Responses by Professor Shiraishi
（1）For regional integration, values and norms are significant. Therefore, it is impossible to realize regional integration just with interest consideration solely.
（2）In discussing about Japan as a‘middle power,' re-thinking of her self-portrait should be one of the main points.
（3）It is considered that within Japan, there still exist good models for the world and the regions. Japan shares her political and economic models worldly, yet the models that she can introduce to the world and the regions should be different models.
（4）Japan is pursuing her own interests through regional integration initiatives.
（5）As for economic integration within Asia, there exist countries that can be regarded as obstacles for the realization. In this context, it is emphasized that both deregulation and standardization are essential, which can be clues for regional institutionalization.
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