It's been a long time coming, and it's been the sore spot that has kept Korea and Japan in pure hatred with each other for 50 years. I mean HATRED. This includes trade embargoes, travel restrictions, etc.

Over the past 10 years, I have watched the Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian countries slowly but surely pull themselves together as a team and get over the issues of the past.

With this past months rapid and monumental protests and ban on Japanese goods due to the UN seat proposal and a few other multi-trillion dollar deals that are pulling this hemisphere together things have moved ahead drastically.

Please note this quote:

"In the past Japan through its colonial rule and aggression caused tremendous damage and suffering for the people of many countries, particularly those of Asian nations," Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said at the opening ceremony of the Asian-African Summit in Jakarta. "Japan squarely faces these facts of history in a spirit of humility."

Koizumi is a honorable man, and this marks the beginning of a whole new era. For those of you economists out there, you know what I am talking about.

Perhaps the doors will open faster now.

I'm delighted.

thanks for the info comrade, I'll renounce my American citizenship and move to china right now because money is far more important than freedom...NOT!

JonR

I'll pack my bags too.

Adroomi isn't saying to denounce America and move to Asia. He's pointing out that things are on the up and up over there. That's all. Nothing else.

What's good for them is going to be good for us.

Just because you commend "A" does not mean you are condemning "B".

Ryan,

Whenever leaders of powerful nations put behind the dealings of the past and quest for peace, it can only mean that the light at the end of the tunnel is coming nearer.

I'm a big fan of peace and an even bigger fan of progress through industry.

The world is changing, and I believe for the better.

I agree.

"Just because you commend "A" does not mean you are condemning "B"."

What he always does is commends "C" (china) and condemns "A" (America).

JonR

JonR: Where in the first post of this thread does Adroomi condemn America?

Japan did some pretty horrible things to it's neighbors up until about 50 years ago. Of course, so did we, and so did it's neighbors.

The disagreements over here have never been about that, but rather Japan refusing to admit or apologize for what it did.

15 years ago....Hell, 10 years ago, you couldn't buy Japanese products in Korea or China, and the countries didn't intertravel. This has changed over the past couple years though. As you know, up until 3 years ago, Korea was the fastest growing economy in the world with exports out the wahzoo going out (especially to America). That country has gone from peasants to millionaires in 50 years. Japan did the same, and now the new monster, China is right behind them.

The three of these countries shaking hands will build the tiger that Jefferson Starship sang of. The tiger that will rule the world.

I'm not talking economics in particular, but I'm talking global peace. We'd be smart to jump into the game now that folks are picking sides.

I've mentioned it before and I'll mention it again. Hands are being shook, and deals are being made. The world is moving on with or without us.

We've played Korea against Japan and China, and both other ways for 50 years.......now they are teaming up and the playing will soon cease. Our military presence moved from Japan (mostly), and is and has been moving from Korea very rapidly.

Northeast Asia will soon have no US presence. In fact all of Asia will be without us.

Meanwhile, the gas prices go higher and the dollar goes lower.

Ryan,

Keep to the topic.....don't let foolishness and non-educated (either street or formal) thoughts get you off subject.

Today is a new day for peace in this region at least. I'm going to celebrate.

Adroomi:

Agreed that it would be VERY wise for the US to begin building solid relationships on the Pacific Rim. Our economy is already so heavily reliant on China and their manufacturing abilities that, if anything were to negatively impact that relationship, our economy would take a nose-dive. Economically, its a sound decision to embrace the progress that is taking place over there. Sociologically, its a major step to a more peaceful world, and EVERY country NEEDS to jump on board. For the US, however, the economic impact will be the selling point.

adroomi - I've read and reread your original post looking for anything that could be construed as anything but posative.

All I see is an attempt to put the negativity of the past away and persue a more posative future. Easier said than done but admirable none the less. I guess I don't see anything here to argue with.

But then again - I tend to focus on the issue not the person.

So Adroomi, in lamans terms are you saying that we are about to witness a new "super power" with the comming terms of peace amongst these 3 nations?

No, I don't mean that. I just mean that Japan is finally started to apologize for it's actions. This is important in the Asian mindset. It's about honor.

The new superpower is China. We have every reason to fear them for what they can do to us economically. We wanted them to have democracy, and they are slowly building it. That's good for them, but bad for us.