Editor's Note:

In recent years, cooperation among China, Japan and South Korea has been stalled by political and historical issues, which hampers regional peace and stability. What leads to the current situation? How can the three regional powers strengthen their trilateral mutual trust? Several experts from the three countries shared their insights at the 2nd Trilateral People-to-People Exchange Forum in Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin Province on Monday.

Tomoki Kamo, professor at Keio University

Since the beginning of the century, changes in the global balance of power have enhanced Northeast Asia's position in the international community but have also led to more tensions in the region. As countries in the area have strong militaries yet lack peace mechanisms in place, their security strategy vary.

Northeast Asia's peace and stability is built on the international order formed in the last half of 20th century. But now a major puzzle for the region is how China, Japan and South Korea will choose to maintain stability. The three countries don't have an adequate understanding of each other, and this is combined with many uncertainties. Therefore, a proper and long-term strategy is needed to build a stable order in Northeast Asia and sustain prosperity in the region.

Yang Bojiang, deputy director-general of the Institute of Japanese Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

China, Japan and South Korea need to utilize their geographical conditions to enhance trilateral mutual trust, and cooperation is primary. The three countries have many issues with each other and some cannot be solved any time soon. They need to intensify cooperation to make positive factors outweigh unfavorable ones and cooperation needs to be considered more from a geo-economic perspective than a geopolitical one.

As China and South Korea have become powerful, what does this bring to the regional order? This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII. A variety of commemorative activities aim not to continue hatred, but provide an opportunity to reflect on history together and march toward the future. 

Besides, the three countries need to honestly face up to the past and create favorable conditions. They have chosen different development paths in modern times and do not truly know about each other.

It is critical to be honest about history and not attempt to cover it up. Leaders also need to honor the commitments of their predecessors to make them convincing. Japanese leaders such as Tomiichi Murayama have apologized for Japan's wartime history, but the apologies are often overturned by their successors. This not only hampers trilateral mutual trust but also stains Japan's reputation.

Moreover, despite the setbacks in trilateral relations, we should still be optimistic and positive about the prospects of the three countries. They need to manage current problems effectively and shelve those that cannot be shortly addressed.

Kim Hankwon, professor of Department of Asian and Pacific Studies, Korea National Diplomatic Academy

We need an optimistic perspective. It's true that changes have taken place in the region. China and the US now form twin poles of power, and growing nationalism has led to more conflicts among countries in the region. Moreover, the domestic politics of these countries has become more influential. The conservatives in Japan are gaining momentum while the polarized political views in South Korea have posed challenges to policymakers.

But in the end, cooperation will prevail. The US is now hedging against China and some US diplomats are even concerned that China is turning revisionist, but they will eventually embrace cooperation.

Li Xiao, professor of School of Economics, Jilin University

The lack of trilateral mutual trust stems from the disputes of the three countries in territorial and maritime sovereignty. Besides, these countries all have a victim mentality and also a certain nationalism.

In the last 30 years, two major changes have taken place in Northeast Asia. Political issues used to be detached from economic ones, but now they are closely intertwined. This can be drawn from the political contest behind whether to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

We can draw on Europe's experience to admit the existence of the disputes and actively manage them.