International Research Cooperation Disputing the Chinese Historical Expansionism: The first step towards East Asian chain reconciliation

초록

The bilateral ties between Seoul and Tokyo keep floundering despite the much larger stakes the two nations share. The sall goodwill of correcting the distorted historical narrative through academic cooperation can jumpstart the recovery from the all-time low relations between Seoul and Tokyo. As the distrust of Japan erodes among Koreans following Tokyo’s goodwill measures and the research support, Japan would win the Korean public’s growing confidence in Japan’s greater role in dealing with a rising China. Seoul and Tokyo then could reach an agreement on broader strategic issues as well, based on the enhanced confidence. Seoul could offer Beijing a face-saving exit from the ancient history issue. The ongoing wave of apparent academic misconduct from Beijing, born out of political calculation, will soon recede and remain in memory as a trivial episode of some ill-trained historians. In turn, Koreans’ suspicions based on the Chinese “Middle Kingdom Complex” will soon rescind and people’s mutual confidence and respect will return across the Yellow Sea. Resolution of the Korea-China ancient history friction will bring about a spiral of benign repercussions concerning other maritime disputes in the region. Beijing will be less inclined to quote the flawed historical claims over islands in the South China Sea. Seoul, through this peace-making success, could enhance its international standing as a facilitator or mediator of reconciliation between China and Japan. The three Asian powers will altogether benefit as the currently looming clash scenarios gradually dissipate among international observers with pessimistic eyes.