Chung-In Moon: China is a Very Important Part of East Asia Community

Asia, particularly Northeast Asia, will be the center of economy in the world stage. Asia will be the most important. Without Asia, the world cannot work.

 By Rui Che(车锐)

RUI CHE:Early in 2002, China, South Korea and Japan set out to discuss the possibility of a Free Trade Area, and it took a decade for them to reach a basic agreement.

What, according to you, contributed to the successful arrival of the agreement?

Chung-In Moon: I think the most important thing will be domestic politics. Once you have FTA, there are some “losers” and “winners” at home. For example, farmers in Korea and Japan will be “losers” as a result of China FTA. Political issues can delay and impede process of FTA. Whether FTA can be successful or not will depend on domestic political leadership. Because China has strong domestic political leadership, I don’t think there will be any problem in China. Problems are mainly in Korea and Japan.

 RUI CHE: What is the most difficult part of establishing a FTA between the three countries, and what kind of obstacle still remains? Will the intervention of America be a negative element?

 Chung-In Moon: Still, domestic politics in Japan and South Korea. America is not necessarily an obstacle. In the past, America used to be very critical on this kind of push, but now South Korea has FTA with America and Japan will have TPP. In the way, US can have access to Chinaaswell.. I do not see any reason why the US would oppose this kind of arrangement.

 RUI CHE: If you imagine that an East Asia Community existed, what role would China play in such a community?

 Chung-In Moon: China will be the most important. Trade dependence of East Asian countries with China is increasing. . China is a very important part. It should have an open market. We cannot imagine an East Asian Community without China. Still, China is not ready to play leadership at present, for leadership means provision of more qualified goods. But for the time being, the speeding up of cooperation itself is the most important one.

In fear of China’s major role, Japan, Singapore, India, Australia and New Zealand seek a way of balancing China. I don’t think that is a good idea. Regardless of these countries behavior, China is a very important actor.

 RUI CHE: What will be South Korea’s role then? There are some misunderstandings between China and Japan due to some historical reasons. Will South Korea be a media?

 Chung-In Moon:yes, if China and Japan continues to be in conflict in the future. Korea wants to play a harmonizing role between the two. It is a very stupid idea for South Korea to pick one side (whether to pick side with China or with Japan). Korea should work hard to associate Korea, Japan, China, and Russia. We should all work together.

 RUI CHE: Can you imagine how Asia will be in the next decade (like the distribution of power and the degree of cooperation)?

 Chung-In Moon:Asia, particularly Northeast Asia, will be the center of economy in the world stage. Asia will be the most important. Without Asia, the world cannot work.