Introduction
China, Japan, and the United States are the most important powers in Asia now and for the future. The relationships among them are the foundation of international relations, peace, and stability in East Asia, but may also become the major source of strategic conflict in the region. What Asia is now and will become in future decades depends very much on the three countries and their relationships.
The early 21st century has been and will continue to be an era of dynamic change for China and Japan, as well as for the rest of Asia. The changes provide some opportunities for all the countries in the region, including the three major powers, and at the same time pose significant challenges. In order to ensure that developments in Asia are going to the right direction—that they promote peace and stability, and manage regional issues, problems, and uncertainties—the U.S., China, and Japan need a long-term and stable mechanism to manage their relationships and regional issues.
The U.S., Japan, and China are the strategic powers in East Asia, and the whole region’s well-being will depend very much on the three countries and their relationship. However, while there have been various talks and processes such as those among Japan, the U.S., and Australia, and among China, Russia, and India, there has not been any mechanism to bring together leaders from Beijing, Washington, and Tokyo to talk about trilateral and regional issues,. The region and the era of the 21st century need the most significant players in the region to engage and improve their communication, understanding, consultation, and cooperation in Asia to ensure long-term peace and development in the region. Such lasting development will not occur without formal mechanisms, and among these a China-U.S.-Japan forum will be one of the most important.
