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  tclh at 02:01 PM JST - 9th October

  Does he has any worry that one day Malaysia will become another China's Xinjiang? Remove US Australia NZ from the list he will soon to see Japan Korea China involving in power struggle..that will not be interest of Asian countries, isn't it? and also who will speaking out when injustices are carried out by some powerful members of the group?

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  panzerkampwagen at 02:09 PM JST - 9th October

  The relationship of China and India was hostile, their dispute over the Arunacal Pardesh has resulted with nothing after decades of talks! China was furious with India harbouring Dalia Lamma and making nuclear aresenals and India hates China supporting Pakistan.Both countries were rattling the sabre with their military. That was extremely dangerous and if Mr hatoyama insisting India to join this union will further soured the good relationship between Japan and China. Because that was an attempt to use India as a balance weight to counter China in asia, at least in the perspective of Chinese leaders! I hope Mr. Hatoyama better think twice before spelling out those wishes, sometimes China was much complicate to understand from outsider's view but that was essential, a little mistake or misunderstanding will results very unpredictable consequences as of the sino Japanese relations wasnt very good in the past 100 years.The emerge of Japan's democratic party will be a fine oppurtunity to boost a better neighbourhood but still a long road to go. An asian union is good idea indeed but it wont be easy like the EU!

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  lincolnman at 02:12 PM JST - 9th October

  Hatoyama to Mahathir "So Mr Mahathir, we'll cut our ties with the US and your country will sign on to a one-way defense treaty with us that stipulates that you will defend us but we can't defend you (that pesky Constitution we have, you know)? And you'll bully nK and China when they try to muscle us? And you'll twist Russia's arm over the Northern Territories. And...oh forget it........"

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  panzerkampwagen at 02:18 PM JST - 9th October

  Japan, China and South Korea ‘‘should not be held back by this baggage of history

  The problem was the WW2 history wasnt just a 'baggae' it was a phantom always haunting!

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  kyourin at 02:21 PM JST - 9th October

  rather than divide .. ideas of collaboration would be wiser at this stage

  .. this is just a blabber of egoistic ideals

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  panzerkampwagen at 02:48 PM JST - 9th October

  In history views, China and Japan should be very good friends. Because the born of modern China was actually rooted from Japan. The people of China,the ethnic han Chinese hatred the Manchurian empire and despise it for long time. The manchurian empire occcupied China for more than 240 years and she was useless corrupted, greed and discriminating kingdom which always lost wars with western powers since the 1840 sino-British opium war. The manchurian empire ceded land and wealths to the west from the blood sweated han Chinese! The Manchuian empire were parasites indeed! It was Dr Sun yat-san who was a Hong Kong doctor invented the idea to overthrown the empire and introducing the republic system to China. so he was known as the father of modern China. Because China was geograhic terms instead of a nation's name before the 1911 revolution! Dr Sun has a long and deep connection with the intellectuals of japan, he has many japanese friends and good Japanese people who were willing to help Dr Sun's revolutions and understanding China's difficulties. They understand without China, asia shall always under the bully by US,european powers as imperialisms was rampaging asia in early 20th century! The headquarter of the nationalist party was formed in Japan and sponnsering revolutions against the manchu dynasty. It took 10 operations and finally success in 10th October 1911. Without the help from those good Japanese people's supports and contributions,the topple of the empire shall never success.

  But it was so unfortunte due to the greeds of Japanese expansionism giving the 21 deamnds treaty to China in 1916 that causing outrages against Japan in 1919 lead to a huge resentment over Japan and the involvement of US over asian politics.....and later japan adopted the facistisms and goes to war with everyone....and you know the rest of all.....until Hiroshima,Nagasaki blasts! I want to say a very big pity that both countries does not have the wisdom to undersatnd others in a so called civilized world! Even today neither side willing to accept or tolerant others in some kind of way but roaring accusations! Too bad for asia too bad for our children!

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  sabiwabi at 02:56 PM JST - 9th October

  that pesky Constitution we have, you know

  Japan holding on to that constitution that was imposed on them only helps confirm that Mahathir is right, that Japan is ruled by the U.S. (by proxy?).

  Japan is grown up enough to stand on its own two feet and write its own constitution.

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  Brantastik at 03:59 PM JST - 9th October

  I totally agree with him and when I first heard of the proposal for an East Asian Union by Hatoyama, I envisioned one with ASIAN countries only as I presumed that is the whole point of such an idea. This would also be a step forward for creating an equal relationship with the US.

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  Yelnats at 03:59 PM JST - 9th October

  The us does not own japan. If we did, we surely would have gotten the govt removed long ago.

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  kp123 at 04:01 PM JST - 9th October

  I've heard this line before. Remember, it was Japan that brought up a similar idea back in 1937 by Prime Minister(Prince) Fumimaro Konoe called, "East-Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere" working jointly with colonized Asian countries to free themselves from European suzerainity to cooperate on all fronts with Japan as Asians for Asia. Countries such as China, S. Korea and Singapore with long memories may find this politically difficult to deal with when Hatoyama apparently shares and expresses these same views with Mahathir. Of course times have changed since those days, but nevertheless it still remains a thorn in Japan's side.

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  ReikiZen at 04:50 PM JST - 9th October

  Even though Japan-US Relations have been rocky in the past. I feel a Japan-China pact will only create more tension between the two countries and crate turmoil throughout all of Asia. While China is an emerging power they still have a long ways to go before they replace US. China's poverty is in the hundreds of millions and it's infrastructure while improving still is no where it needs to be. China still has major health concerns and practices it needs to address and a pollution problem which is beyond problematic. China's less then acceptable practices on beef safety would not go over well with Japan's strict standards. Less dependence on US just means more dependence on someone else in Japan's case. There is another key problem in this thinking. After World War II the Japan US alliance was put into place as a means of keeping the region from spiraling out of control. Not to mention would Japan have preferred China or Russia being there instead of US? Yea, I can see that and Japan would likely be a Chinese territory. Stability in Asia is of the utmost importance to the west. The Middle East is just an annoyance. Although a power struggle in Asia would send shock waves throughout the world. This is in no ones best interests especially Japan as they are stuck right in da middle of it.

  I doubt Japan would feel comfortable having China dictate to them how school keeps but what choice would they have without US protection. In reality neither the US or Japan can afford to loose each other as an ally. To much of the US economy is connected to Japan and vice versa. Japan owns a good share in many of US largest corporations, institutions, Banks (Bank Of America lol) and now Wall Street where Japan recently acquired the stock holdings in one of the country largest firms in an effort to avoid bankruptcy. There is no way on god's green earth that the US is going to allow an all Asian pact or to allow Japan to severe it ties with Washington. It would mean a complete collapse of US economy which would send the world markets into a tailspin. I can guarantee that while Japan might have felt U.S. was ignoring Japan it most certainly was not. Japan is likely the most important friend/ally above all else. It cannot afford to loose that under any conditions. This is just stupid talk as we should be working on ways to help each other through this crises. I hope Mr. Hatoyama's realizes while it might not seem like it at the moment. The US is likely the best friend Japan is ever likely to get. Even though we don't always see eye to eye. It is better then the alternative as will benefit no one especially Japan..

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  apecNetworks at 05:22 PM JST - 9th October

  Malaysia’s ex-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is STILL shooting from the hip, I guess.

  From my sources, he will eventually get what he envisions and he did play a large part in allowing the possibility of an "East Asia Community" to develop. In 1998, during the Asian Financial Crisis, he not only found a solution to a collapsing currency, he was the first person to harness the power inherent in APEC. There were some other participants, but he harnessed, and personally witnessed what APEC can do if the person is the right person. He may not be a saint, but in 1998, he was the Person. His action stopped a "currency chain reaction", and allowed the affected economies to recover from a less severe situation - the action allowed the economies to strengthen to the point it is now at. From my sources, there are now several people now capable of doing what former PM Mahathir ignited, so the future bodes well for the Asia-Pacific. The people in the wings are not "saints", just like PM Mahathir, but they also can be historical "players", like him. He will be remembered, but most likely in the Asean Plus 3 grouping the most.

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  apecNetworks at 05:30 PM JST - 9th October

  Correction:

  ...ASEAN Plus 3 grouping.....

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  apecNetworks at 05:44 PM JST - 9th October

  The irony of APEC 1998 was, former PM Mahathir was the only leader of an economy that publicly stated his disdain for APEC.

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  BlackOut at 05:59 PM JST - 9th October

  it is just another dictator talking. i think japan is doing way better than malaysia.

  and japanese don't have to cheat the time zone just to gain advance for stock market or jail any political enemy like what he did to mr.anwar!

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