Is there any possibility of an EU-style union or arrangement between China, Japan, and South Korea in the future?

These three nations of East Asia are so incredibly close. They share a similar culture, with similar people, and incredibly close economic and cultural ties overall. In fact, I would argue East Asia in general is culturally, demographically, genetically, and economically more cohesive and similar than much of Europe. For example, I'd argue Chinese and Korean people are far closer to each other than Spaniards are to Polish people, but the latter two still coexist in a union. Given that Europe, for all its differences between its peoples, was able to form a union, could China, Japan, and South Korea do the same? An East Asian Union would be one of the most, if not the most, powerful union in the world, an unstoppable juggernaut for technology, economics, and culture.

cbl21 said:

These three nations of East Asia are so incredibly close. They share a similar culture, with similar people, and incredibly close economic and cultural ties overall. In fact, I would argue East Asia in general is culturally, demographically, genetically, and economically more cohesive and similar than much of Europe. For example, I'd argue Chinese and Korean people are far closer to each other than Spaniards are to Polish people, but the latter two still coexist in a union. Given that Europe, for all its differences between its peoples, was able to form a union, could China, Japan, and South Korea do the same? An East Asian Union would be one of the most, if not the most, powerful union in the world, an unstoppable juggernaut for technology, economics, and culture.

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Hi cbl21,

NO, each had its own historical baggage to carry especially SK and JAPAN and also economically rival (ex :shipbuilding) , right now it will be a good opportunity for SK and Japan to fill in the void due to tech sanction to China. A real golden opportunity, but they will not disobey the US. And this ladies and gentleman, instead of integrated tech eco system, were each nation had a complementary role to play,a major rival (China)will emerge within a decade and will most likely swallow both (SK & Japan) of them tech wise.

Too much bad blood for it to happen. Especially between Japan and Korea.

EU is not just an economic union, its a political union where all the members must have the same governance structure and international outlook and backed by American military dominance.

For China, Japan and Korea to be in that kind of union, China will have to not only dominate east Asia militarily, but force a regime change in Japan and Korea to make them similar to China's. Japan and Korea simply cannot be pro-western vassals and have any kind of positive relationship with China.

Moreover, Japan and Korea has developed a lot superiority complex over the Chinese. That superiority complex will not go away until China beats them and makes them suffer militarity and show them their place. This is especially true for Japan which has developed a lot of Superiority complex WW2. They think they did not lose to China but to US. So, China must beat Japan before that superiority complex is broken.

Once that happens, and Chinese bases are firmly in Japan and Korea, then EU style union could happen.

If China achieves hegemony in East Asia. I think its inevitable that Japan and Korea must come under Chinese wing as well in terms of Culture and political system. So there is strong possibility of EU style union happening. But it will take atleast 1 century.

tamsen_ikard said:

EU is not just an economic union, its a political union where all the members must have the same governance structure and international outlook and backed by American military dominance.

For China, Japan and Korea to be in that kind of union, China will have to not only dominate east Asia militarily, but force a regime change in Japan and Korea to make them similar to China's. Japan and Korea simply cannot be pro-western vassals and have any kind of positive relationship with China.

Moreover, Japan and Korea has developed a lot superiority complex over the Chinese. That superiority complex will not go away until China beats them and makes them suffer militarity and show them their place. This is especially true for Japan which has developed a lot of Superiority complex WW2. They think they did not lose to China but to US. So, China must beat Japan before that superiority complex is broken.

Once that happens, and Chinese bases are firmly in Japan and Korea, then EU style union could happen.

If China achieves hegemony in East Asia. I think its inevitable that Japan and Korea must come under Chinese wing as well in terms of Culture and political system. So there is strong possibility of EU style union happening. But it will take atleast 1 century.

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Hi tamsen_ikard,

As long as China remain open for trade, welcome foreigner and investment, it will happen gradually. Today competition is not about military might, its about the attractiveness and the quality of life inside your country, its about culture to be emulated, just like in ancient TANG & MING dynasty. You can see a lot of foreigner in Youtube sharing their video about living in China and achieving their Chinese dream Lol

Probably not, since China's economic size alone would guarantee that it calls most, if not all the shots.

I know a white female who knows Japanese and spent a number of years living there. She tells me I should go visit Japan. I was hesitant and said I'm not a big traveler and besides I've heard stories of how they treat Chinese tourists. She disagreed with me and says I don't have to worry about that. Then I mention a YouTube video I saw where you have this rally on a Japanese street and there's a little Japanese girl dressed in stereotypical Japanese school girl uniform behind the microphone at the podium and with her little Japanese girl voice she was spewing all this vile hatred towards Koreans. Then she tells me, "Oh yeah they hate Koreans!"

tamsen_ikard said:

EU is not just an economic union, its a political union where all the members must have the same governance structure and international outlook and backed by American military dominance.

For China, Japan and Korea to be in that kind of union, China will have to not only dominate east Asia militarily, but force a regime change in Japan and Korea to make them similar to China's. Japan and Korea simply cannot be pro-western vassals and have any kind of positive relationship with China.

Moreover, Japan and Korea has developed a lot superiority complex over the Chinese. That superiority complex will not go away until China beats them and makes them suffer militarity and show them their place. This is especially true for Japan which has developed a lot of Superiority complex WW2. They think they did not lose to China but to US. So, China must beat Japan before that superiority complex is broken.

Once that happens, and Chinese bases are firmly in Japan and Korea, then EU style union could happen.

If China achieves hegemony in East Asia. I think its inevitable that Japan and Korea must come under Chinese wing as well in terms of Culture and political system. So there is strong possibility of EU style union happening. But it will take at least 1 century.

Click to expand...

Completely agree I have been following Japanese politic for a long time. for all their bravado Japan is still occupied land because of their inhuman deed in WW II they feel insecure toward China Therefore the need for protection from the US coupled with irredentist attitude of their politic elite make a reconciliation even more difficult. These people control media, politic etc and spread their message.

But on the other side of equation is the business lobby who advocate for closer relation with China as they see the benefit to Japanese economy and well being, There is a weak faction in LDP that also has the same idea people like Tomiichi Murayama, Yukio Hatoyama. or even Kakuei Tanaka. But this faction is weak. Historically there is always exist a pro Asia faction in Japanese politic. eg Sun Yat Sen revolution find a lot of Sympathy among Japanese elite prewar II
Or former prime minister Yukio Hatoyama
But they were quickly removed as soon as they display tendency to side with China.
But I can see this group is gaining more traction as China economy locomotive gaining speed!

In moving towards a more Asia-centered foreign policy, Hatoyama worked towards making relations better with nearby East Asian countries, even saying "the Japanese Islands don't belong to only Japanese".

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Hatoyama worked to deepen

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with the East Asian region, pushing for a

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in Asia by 2020 and proposing

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as a 24-hour hub for international flights.

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In January 2010, he welcomed South Korea's

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, calling for 'future-oriented' ties, as opposed to recalling the past, in which Japan colonized Korea.

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also warmed under Hatoyama. The first few months saw an exchange of visits, including one by favored successor to China's leadership

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, for whom Hatoyama hastily arranged an appointment with

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.

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On 7 January, the

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reported high-level discussion over a further exchange of visits between the two countries to promote reconciliation over historical issues. "Beijing aims to ease anti-Japan sentiment among the Chinese public by having Hatoyama visit Nanjing and express a sense of regret about the Sino-Japanese War", the paper reported.

For the majority of Japanese people they don't care one way or another as long as they still live comfortable Election was never decided on foreign policy but on domestic policy.

So yeah it will take along time The only bright future is the younger generations now able to travel widely in Asia they see for themselves that Asia is not as bad as depicted by the media. And they found more and more commonality like food, way of life etc But still only minority sofar.

It isn't going to ever happen as long as US maintain its grip on both Japan and Korea. Heck, Korea could be unify tomorrow if US gets out. China would not stand in it's way, but all the time US is in Korea, China has to maintain north Korea.

As far as union is concern, there's simply no need. China in effort is one big European type union. It's populous and market size, with a single currency and rules and laws is in effort one big union.

This makes it appealing for others to join in, a bit like the EU was when all the eastern bloc countries break away from the Soviets. All they wanted to do was join the EU. I suspect if US did ever looses it's grip on these two, these two will be rushing in to join China in economic union, however, it would never be political union I guess, but then it doesn't need to be.

Gatekeeper said:

It isn't going to ever happen as long as US maintain its grip on both Japan and Korea. Heck, Korea could be unify tomorrow if US gets out. China would not stand in it's way, but all the time US is in Korea, China has to maintain north Korea.

As far as union is concern, there's simply no need. China in effort is one big European type union. It's populous and market size, with a single currency and rules and laws is in effort one big union.

This makes it appealing for others to join in, a bit like the EU was when all the eastern bloc countries break away from the Soviets. All they wanted to do was join the EU. I suspect if US did ever looses it's grip on these two, these two will be rushing in to join China in economic union, however, it would never be political union I guess, but then it doesn't need to be.

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Hi Gatekeeper,

The US will argue that they were there to prevent any conflict between SK and JAPAN.