East Asia likely to be another pillar

Comments on Amy King “China and the lessons of the past”, 29/07/2010, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2010/07/29/china-and-the-lessons-of-the-past/
While obviously it is Japan that determines and will continue to determine its foreign policy, how China behaves will also be an important factor that may have a bearing on Japan's choice.

It is in every country's interest that the Northeast Asian countries, namely China, Japan and Korea become the cornerstone of a successful East Asian community, given the sizes of their economies.

If China can't get the Northeast Asian countries close to a successful regional community, how can it become an effective and responsible global leader in the future? It has to consider what the best long term strategy should be for its position as a world leader to be consistent with its growing economy.

The idea of zero sum game by any of the key players will be unhelpful to the interests of the Northeast Asian countries.

Closer relations and further economic integration of the region is likely to become another pillar to complement the North America and Europe Union as the three most important pillars in global affairs in the 21st century.

PS: I have suggested in the past that a federation model for the reunification China and Taiwan under which each would choose its own political system. Hong Kong and Macau could be given special status under that federation. The federation's role is to strengthen the common interests of all members as a federation by coordinating matters related to national defence, external security and foreign affairs, but leave its members to run virtually almost all its internal affairs.
The model for East Asia regional organisation could be between those of the United Nations and the European Union. The European model seems to have an undesirable feature in terms of another layer of bureaucracy.