뉴스레터

Question

The Japan-China Joint History Research Committee recently published its research findings. What is the significance of the committee's report? Are their any areas of concerns or interest for Korea?

Answer

First step toward mutual understanding

With the goal of easing bilateral conflict surrounding historical issues and strengthening the two countries' friendship, the governments of China and Japan founded the Japan-China Joint History Research Committee (Research Committee, hereafter) in December 2006. The Research Committee's findings from 3 years of research were organized into a report that was published on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (http://www.mofa.go.jp) on January 31, 2010.

At a meeting in April 2005, Machimura Nobutaka, Japan's Minister for Foreign Affairs, proposed to China's Foreign Minister that Japan and China undertake joint history research. This led to the founding of the Research Committee. The Japanese government proposed joint history research as a means for improving China-Japan relations, which had deteriorated since the inauguration of Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro, who made annual visits to the Yasukuni Shrine. At the Japan-China summit held in Japan in April 2008, President Hu Jintao showed great interest in the Research Committee, speaking highly of its role in Japan-China relations.

In a joint statement in December 2009, the Research Committee provided an update on its endeavor: "We have arrived at a mutual understanding on a number of issues, but there are still many areas of divergence. The first phase of the joint research was a first step toward the promotion of mutual understanding. There are still many unresolved issues that require further studies during the second phase." The Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada assessed, "The open exchanges of opinion during the research process demonstrated the differences in the two nation's historical understanding, and this is the first step toward enhancing mutual understanding." Chinese Chairman Dr. Bu Ping (步平) commented, "Joint research between Chinese and Japanese scholars strengthens bilateral people-to-people ties." The Research Committee, through its work over the past 3 years, identified the points of convergence and divergence in China and Japan's understandings of history. Thus, the process was significant in that it was the first step toward a shared historical understanding between China and Japan.

Undermining a balanced East Asian viewpoint

However, there are some areas of concern in the report issued by the Research Committee. The narrative on the tributary-investiture system can mislead some readers into thinking that China and Japan were historically superior to Korea. Regarding the Russo-Japanese War, it is said that Japan's victory was welcomed by Asia's many nations and that it influenced nationalist movements in Asia. The Research Committee's aim is to examine the historical issues between China and Japan. Nevertheless, parts of the report indicate that excluding Korea from the discussion on China-Japan historical issues may lead to findings that lack a balanced East Asian perspective.

The launch of a new editorial board is said to be imminent. In order to overcome the aforementioned limitations and lay the foundation for active cooperation for the mutual understanding among Korea, China, and Japan, there needs to be a trilateral joint research committee in addition to the Japan-China and Korea-Japan committees.