ADRN

Taipei, Oct. 29 (CNA) A meeting of scholars from Taiwan, South Korea and Japan opened in Taipei Monday, attracting scores of political and diplomatic experts to discuss a range of burning issues and disputes in the region.

 

The trilateral dialogue, the fifth such event in the past two years, has become a great exchange platform for the three parties to continue further partnership, said Liu Fu-kuo, executive director of National Chengchi University's MacArthur Center for Security Studies, which is organizing the event.

 

At such a "difficult time," the three countries should work together, build a solid base and explore possible solutions to solve peacefully any disputes in the region, Liu said in his opening remarks.

 

The one-day event includes general security challenges, maritime disputes and cooperation mechanisms in the region, he added.

 

Chun Chae-sung, a professor of international relations at Seoul National University, said that middle powers will be playing more important roles in solving disputes in Northeast Asia.

 

Cooperation is critical and no country can solve such disputes single-handedly, he said.

 

Noting that participants are from different countries, Chun urged people to look at problems objectively and "have a regional identity rather than a national one" when presenting their opinions.

 

Yoshihide Soeya, director of Keio University's Institute of East Asian Studies, said previous meetings have been "rewarding experiences" and he looks forward to "new thoughts" during the Taipei event.

 

Tensions have escalated recently over territorial disputes between South Korea and Japan over an East Sea island group respectively named the Dokdo/Takeshima Islands.

 

Rows have also erupted among Taiwan, Japan and China over the East China Sea archipelago known as the Diaoyutai Islands in Taiwan, the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyu Islands in China.