I know this topic, or something like it, keeps popping up here, but that’s because it keeps popping up in the Chinese media.  Here we have yet another front page People’s Daily (Overseas Edition) article on creating a collective identity among countries of East Asia.  In this case, Confucianism is not mentioned, but I imagine that if pushed, the author, Wu Jianmin, President of China Foreign Affairs University, might well say "sure, Confucianism is part of it, too."

     In any event, Mr. Wu has five C’s and one O to describe the emerging East Asian identity: Consultation, Consensus, Cooperation and Comfort level, Closeness and Openness.  This seems quaint.  But, if he is talking about China, Japan and South Korea it is not at all clear that these things actually apply to current relations among these places.  Let’s just take one example.  Here is Mr. Wu on "comfort level:"

The fourth C means comfort level, which is specific for Asians. Working in
the United States and Europe for many years, I have found that
there is no such a thing like "comfort level" in the Western world.

And what do I mean by "comfort level"? That is to make a certain decision,
which is no difficulty for some countries in principle. However, one may feel
uncomfortable. If there occurs such a condition, others can wait for a while.
When all feel comfortable, a decision will be given. What a marvelous thing it
is!

     This is, as he says, "specific to Asians;" hmmm….. How that works is unclear.  Of course, Bush administration policies have drastically lowered the comfort level between the US and Europe in recent years.  I suspect, however, that there is a great deal of comfort among the European and American big wigs at Davos every year (I am guessing because I have never been invited…).  On the other hand, we all know how warm and fuzzy Sino-Japanese relations have been in the past few years.  There is a real comfort level whenever PM Koizumi goes to the Yasukuni shrine, or when Chinese submarines move into the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands.  Indeed, everyone is so comfortable we can’t agree on the name of those islands.  Diaoyutai? 

    The problem here is that Mr. Wu and the PRC government are trying too hard to construct an image of a culturally unified East Asia.  Obviously the region is divided politically, and will be for as long as China and Japan feel distinctly uncomfortable with each other’s power.  Papering over these political realities with saccharine bromides about cooperation and closeness does little to create unity. 

    If Chinese leaders really do want to invent a common East Asian Identity, perhaps they should be less explicit about it.  Do less and more will happen.  Yes, I am slipping into a Taoist thing there.  But I am prone to that, you know.   So, here is a passage from the Tao Te Ching (24):

Stretch onto tiptoes
and you never stand firm.
Hurry long strides
and you never travel far.

Keep up self-reflection
and you’ll never be enlightened.
Keep up self-definition
and you’ll never be apparent.
Keep up self-promotion
and you’ll never be proverbial.
Keep up self-esteem
and you’ll never be perennial.

Travelers of the Way call such striving
"too much food and useless baggage."
Things may not all despise such striving,
but a master of the Way stays clear of it.

    If China wants to increase its "soft power," it should not force the issue with clumsy statements like Mr. Wu’s.  Better to just let things unfold.  The PRC government needs to put down the "useless baggage," and give up the self-promotion, and then, maybe, its reputation and attractiveness to others will grow.