Historical Memory and Northeast Asian Regional Politics: from a Chinese Perspective

Abstract

Northeast Asia is a very special region in the world. On the one hand, China, Japan, the two Koreas and Mongolia are very closely interlinked by geographical proximity, economic complementarity, interdependence and cultural ties. On the other hand, the mistrust between or among the Northeast Asian countries has been so deep and long-lasting that the region has so far resisted regional integration. As socially constructed facts, historical memories have had negative impacts on Chin’s relations with its neighbouring countries in Northeast Asia, since such memories have often served as barriers to the healthy development of bilateral relations and regional cooperation in the region. In this regard, it is important that particular attention be paid to the two categories of historical memory analysed in this chapter, the Sino-Japanese wars and the China-centred tributary system.