Northeast Asian Futures: Coming Together Means Facing the Past

The intertwined geographies and histories of China, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula have engendered what is termed "history problems.'' The most recent and arguably the most volatile manifestation is in the current sovereignty dispute over three island groups. Claimants include Japan, Korea, Russia, Taiwan, and China; this article primarily concerns the dispute between Japan and Korea. These virulent territorial disputes can be traced to Japan's 1905 invasion and occupation of Korea and, more recently, to 1945 and the San Francisco Treaty crafted in the aftermath of World War II. Washington is not a disinterested party; the author argues that to achieve its rebalancing aims for the region, Washington should use its influence to help those involved in this standoff (which involves two of its allies-Japan and South Korea) reach agreement.