The situation of East Asia today is just like Europe in the early 20th century.

There are mutual suspicions and contradictions among the countries. North Korea often uses the nuclear blackmail to threaten other countries. Japan's right-wing forces, with growing influence, constantly pick fights and spark outrage from neighboring countries. The US continuously conducts military drills in the Asia-Pacific region, and makes use of contradictions among East Asian countries to stir up conflicts.

History's impact can create times of peace. For instance, in Latin America, there has been no large-scale war since the 19th century, when devastating wars to establish the limits of newly created countries rocked the region.

Since then countries have been preoccupied with internal conflicts, but conflicts between states have been relatively rare and a culture inclined toward peace and away from interstate rivalry has developed.

After the World War II, European countries deeply reflected on the war and removed the enmities among them that lasted for several centuries. They integrated with each other, and established the EU. It is hard to imagine that large-scale war will erupt among European countries now or in the future. European countries have achieved peace through establishing institutions and acquiring a peace culture.

The culture of East Asia was naturally peaceful, but it was destroyed in modern history. The countries should reestablish a new type of peace culture, which can lay a social foundation for avoiding the war. The peace culture of East Asia has deep historical roots. East Asian countries had wars and conflicts in history, but coexisting in amity was the norm between countries.

East Asia once had a tributary system, which let countries in the region live together peacefully. The main reason of the amity lay in the common ideas, values and culture shared by East Asian countries. The culture of East Asia was characterized by values and ideas emphasizing harmony, peace and cooperation.

In modern history, absolute sovereignty and the idea of state caused continuous clashes, enmities and wars in Europe. After these concepts were introduced to East Asia from Europe, disputes also arrived in the region. From then on, true mutual trust has never been established among East Asian states.

And the region had witnessed intensive wars. The Japanese aggression against China from 1937 to 1945 made this mistrust reach a pinnacle.

Although they experienced the cruelty of war, many East Asian countries are not willing to reflect on their own experiences as European countries did, nor to establish effective institutions to avoid the breakout of wars. In contrary, the pursuit of force still exists and hangs over the region.

Nowadays, the situation of East Asia is just like Europe in modern history. Countries excessively focus on the absolute sovereignty and blaze with nationalism.

Some countries always try to force others to yield through the brink-of-war policy. But no one can ensure this kind of action will not give rise to war.

It seems that war could reshape the world again. However, history has repeatedly proved that war can only bring catastrophe to humanity.

For East Asian countries, it is of utmost significance to realize the destructiveness of war, learn the lessons of European countries, reshape the peace culture and cooperate with each other through international institutions.

If the leaders of states cannot realize the destructiveness of war, they will make mistakes. Especially in Japan, which was one of the instigators of World War II, some Japanese do not reflect on their mistakes, and advocate militarism. We have to heighten our vigilance toward this kind of action.



The author is professor and deputy director of School of International Relations at the University of International Business and Economics. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn