Now is the right time to promote the establishment of a Northeast Asian regional security mechanism.

The nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula is an issue of increasing concern for the security of Northeast Asian countries. The two rounds of six-party talks brought together such influential countries in the region as China, Russia, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan -- and the United States as well. And they have kindled a gleam of hope for the establishment of a multilateral security system in the region.

Many people feel that the six-way talks, a special multilateral arrangement aimed at defusing the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula, could develop into a general system to ensure security in Northeast Asia if they were become a systematic and regular event.

The progress already made in the talks convincingly demonstrates that a permanent multilateral regional security system could help solve even the most sensitive security problem.

Northeast Asia should not base its security measures on just bilateral frameworks any more. A multilateral security arrangement will offer a more effective guarantee for regional peace and stability.

The nuclear stalemate on the Korean Peninsula could be turned into a catalyst for the establishment of a multilateral security system in Northeast Asia. Once such a security structure in the region is in place, it will contribute more to the settlement of such common security concerns as the nuclear issue as well as helping to prevent the outbreak of any other crises.

Constructing a multilateral security framework in Northeast Asia is not a new idea.

Russia and Japan suggested setting up a Northeast Asian security mechanism following the end of the Cold War. Countries in the region have also conducted security dialogues at various levels with their neighbors. But a systematized regional security arrangement has to this time remained a distant prospect.

The re-emergence of the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula in October 2002 once again reminded people of the danger the absence of a systematized regional security framework might create and the necessity of building such a system.

The threat of instability in Northeast Asia is very real. The Korean nuclear issue and the Taiwan question remain unresolved, and these two serious issues, if not properly handled, could possibly cause region-wide instability. The ROK and Japan are exhibiting a stronger wish to explore a more self-reliant foreign policy while the influence of the peaceful rise of China is being more and more felt. On the other hand, the United States has never veiled its growing worries about the alleged intention of China to recover its traditional central status in the region.

With regional security issues unresolved and no long-term development plans having been established, peaceful development in Northeast Asia cannot be brought about through the wishes of individual countries in the region. Regional peace can only be achieved through the collective and objective actions of the countries in the region.

A Northeast Asian security framework can serve as a multilateral mechanism based upon the common security interests of the member states. Although there are huge differences to deal with, regional members still have many common security concerns that make a regional multilateral security framework something worth working for.

However, a multilateral security framework built on common interests is not something that can be easily achieved, given that the interests of all countries involved are continuously changing.

Thus, basing a Northeast Asian security system on common security interests must be the surest path to follow.

Undeniably, it will be difficult for Northeast Asia to establish a really effective security mechanism that can stave off crises. Also, any regional security arrangement without US involvement would be fragile.

However, the United States has not shown much interest in the establishment of a multilateral security system in Northeast Asia. Washington worries that such a security configuration will contravene its bilateral security arrangements in the region.

The United States will try to maintain its military presence and bilateral alliances in Northeast Asia as they are, although it will continue to pressure the DPRK into concessions in any further six-party talks.

Also, Washington will not actively push for the creation of a Northeast Asian security organization based on the current six-party talks mechanism.

(China Daily March 26, 2004)