[특집] 일ㆍ중관계와 동북아 안보

China-Japan Relations and the Security of Northeast Asia

The social, economic ana political transition now underway in Asia is positive but uncertain. Unlike Europe, communist regimes remain in power in East Asia-China, North Korea, Vietnam-although leadership and generational changes are underway in these states. In Asia, threats of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, emerging nationalism amidst longstanding ethnic and national rivalries, and unresolved territorial disputes combine to create a political landscape of potential instability and conflict. Among them, one significant example is the territorial dispute of Spartly Islands. In 1988, there were small naval clashes between China and Vietnam, and these nations continue to be the most likely to engage in armed conflict over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. In February 1992, China reaffirmed its claim to the Spratly Islands and, unfortunately, its readiness to use force to back up its claim. Japan is also seriously concerned about this area because the Japanese economy heavily depends on using the sealane to import natural resources from abroad. In this sense, the area around the Spratly Islands will continue to be a source for regional instability among China, Japan and neibouring countries. Furthermore the unresolved territorial dispute between China and Japan around the Senkaku Islands will also worsening the instability in Asia.