Many countries, including Canada, increasingly regard developing broader relations with East Asian nations as top priorities, beneficial for their own long-term trade and economic interests.
There鈥檚 little doubt closer relations with various countries in that dynamic region make sense, especially when two of the world鈥檚 top economies, China and Japan, plus South Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines and Taiwan are increasingly significant players in the global trade and economic sectors.
East Asia is particularly attractive for resource-rich Canada, which was able to survive the crash of 2008 better than most nations partially due to China鈥檚 appetite for 91原创 resources to fuel its expanding economy. British Columbia ports were major beneficiaries of this growing bilateral trade.
However, the understandable optimism regarding the obvious attraction of East Asia cannot afford to overlook new developments causing concern: The growing importance of China in the region, including its dramatically increased military capabilities, along with unresolved territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas 鈥� many between China and its neighbours, particularly Japan 鈥� have resulted in a growing number of incidents and dangerous provocations.
In September last year, one such territorial dispute resulted in a tense showdown between China and Japan, following the then-Japanese government鈥檚 decision to purchase from a private Japanese owner disputed islands (Diaoy Dao to the Chinese and Senkakus to the Japanese) which Japan has been administering, but which Beijing, as well as Taiwan, both claim historically belong to them.
Tokyo鈥檚 鈥減urchase鈥� of the islands and their 鈥渘ationalization鈥� unleashed large-scale anti-Japanese demonstrations in China, plus a boycott of Japanese products, followed by provocative naval and air moves by the two countries near the disputed islands.
While neither country may want to see their differences escalate to actual conflict, such disputes have in the past resulted in actual conflict.
Disputes over territorial fishing zones can also turn violent. On May 9, a Republic of China (Taiwan) fishing boat, the Guang Da Xing, was fired upon by a Philippine government vessel in the overlapping exclusive economic zones between Taiwan and the Philippines, resulting in the death of one Taiwanese fisherman and severe damage to the Taiwanese boat.
That incident caused considerable tension between Taiwan and the Philippines, with Taiwan demanding an admission of responsibility for the death of the Taiwanese fisherman, plus compensation.
Interestingly, the incident also took an unexpected turn when Beijing, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province of China, also denounced the firing on the Taiwanese vessel, saying it was prepared to protect the rights of such 鈥淐hinese鈥� fishermen, a veiled warning that did not go unnoticed in Taiwan.
Beijing鈥檚 statement embarrassed the government of President Ma Ying-jeou in Taiwan, which considers Taiwan an independent political state separate from mainland China.
Notwithstanding the seriousness of the incident between Taiwan and the Philippines, it鈥檚 the growing tension between China and Japan that represents a worrisome danger for regional stability and has increased concern for other nearby countries, as well as the U.S.
Such concern reached the point where, despite Japan鈥檚 occupation of the Philippines in the Second World War, its foreign minister paradoxically publicly stated in January that his country would welcome a greater Japanese military role in East Asia to bring more balance.
This month, the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo criticized China for what it described as Beijing鈥檚 belligerent actions to assert its territorial claims in disputed waters, claiming Beijing was using 鈥渇orce鈥� in a 鈥渞isky鈥� effort to change maritime boundaries.
In response, a Chinese spokesperson denounced a newly issued Japanese defence white paper, which portrayed China as a threat, claiming Japan was trying 鈥渢o create an excuse for its military buildup.鈥�
Those who understandably see East Asia as a pivotal region for the global economy must also bear in mind that the countries there do have their differences, and those differences can have consequences that few can predict or control.
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Harry Sterling, a former diplomat, is an Ottawa-based commentator.
