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Throughout history, the relationship between China and Japan has more often than not been marked by mistrust and animosity, or even violent conflict. Despite three decades of normalized bilateral relations, several past and present issues serve to complicate the relation between the two states. Since a positive and functioning relationship between China and Japan, the two great powers in Northeast Asia, in many ways is a prerequisite for peace and stability in the region, the present souring bilateral relationship is not only problematic for the states involved, but has implications for neighboring states and the international community at large. Against this background, it has become increasingly important to understand, identify and implement measures that can prevent and manage conflicts and disputes between these two states.

Aim and Purpose

This conference addresses the relationship between China and Japan from a conflict management and conflict prevention perspective. The conference combines a theoretical and policy outlook with a strong focus on the development of new methods for conflict prevention and management as well as confidence building. More specifically, the aim is to identify methods, models and strategies for improving the relationship between the two states. This will be achieved by the sharing of ideas and experience between leading academics, policy makers and high ranking military personnel from within and outside the region.

The conference will be organized into five sessions, addressing both areas of ongoing cooperation, as well as contentious issues that strain the current relationship between China and Japan. The presentations in the different sessions will serve to identify new ways in which ongoing cooperation can be extended and transferred, and also how existing challenges can be confronted and, hopefully, transcended. The five sessions will be organized thematically as follows:

- A Conflict Management and Conflict Prevention Perspective on History: from a politicized past to a healthy political relationship;

- The Conflict Preventative Impact of Sino-Japanese Economic Integration: A Model for Interaction in other Fields?;

- The Modernization and Restructuring of the Military forces in Japan and China – the Increasing Need of Engaging the Military in Conflict Prevention and Management;

- From Crisis Management to Conflict Prevention and Management: The future security framework in Northeast Asia and the question of Taiwan;

- The Role of Regional and Multilateral Forums for Improving Sino-Japanese Ties.

For an overview of and introduction to conflict prevention and management in Northeast Asia, please consult our previous publications. In this regard, the Program's concept paper, discussing and integrating different approaches to conflict prevention, management and resolution, may be of particular interest.

Background

The 2006 conference is the third annual conference on Conflict Prevention and Management (CPM) in Northeast Asia organized by the Silk Road Studies Program. The first of these conferences were held in Beijing in November 2004 and the second in Stockholm in December 2005.

The main purpose of the conference series is to function as a continuing forum in which intra- and interregional researchers and practitioners can share and exchange knowledge and expertise in the fields of conflict prevention and management with regard to Northeast Asia. These conferences and the related publications, thus serve to accumulate and expand knowledge on conflict prevention and management in the region, thereby also addressing the current scarcity of CPM literature with direct relevance to Northeast Asia.

Further information about this conference will be announced on this page within shortly.

Any queries can be directed to the conference organizer: Dr. Niklas Swanström or the conference coordinator Ms. Sofia Ledberg.