PAK LAH ‘MENDED’ CHINA-JAPAN TIES WITH A PEN 20 YEARS AGO

By Massita Ahmad

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 (Bernama) -- Could a pen ease the current frosty ties between China and Japan? 

Some may wonder how a single pen could have played a role in mending the strained relations between these two nations.

That was the opening line of an article written by Mikhail Raj Abdullah, an editor with Bernama Economic News Service, two decades ago.

At the time, he was leading a news team covering the inaugural East Asia Summit (EAS), when Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi served as Prime Minister.

Mikhail, together with then Bernama Chief Executive Officer Datuk Yong Soo Heong and Senior Editor Govind Nair, observed the scene closely.

According to his piece dated Dec 14, 2005, during a declaration signing ceremony at the Summit, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao “proved that there remained sparks of warmth behind the chill in their countries’ relations.”

It happened when Wen lent his pen to Koizumi to sign the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the East Asia Summit.

Abdullah, as ASEAN Chair, was the first to sign.

He was followed by Wen. All eyes were on the Chinese leader as he signed his name in Chinese script.

However, not many noticed Koizumi’s gesture to borrow Wen’s pen – but the trio caught the subtle moment.

Wen, who had been turning towards Abdullah seated to his right, was alerted by Abdullah of Koizumi’s request, and he promptly passed his pen to the Japanese leader.

After all the leaders had signed the document, Wen and Koizumi, seated next to each other, stood up and held hands as they joined the others for a group photo.

A week earlier, China and South Korea had cancelled their annual summit with Japan ahead of the ASEAN+3 Summit (ASEAN plus China, Japan and South Korea), angered by Koizumi’s visit to a war memorial in Tokyo that included war criminals.

Koizumi clarified that his visit was not to glorify war but to raise awareness of its horrors.

Meanwhile, Ayman Rashdan Wong, a Malaysian writer and geopolitical analyst, recently reflected on the event on his Facebook page.

He noted that among Malaysia’s Prime Ministers, Abdullah was the one he could relate to the most, as that was the time he began developing an interest in global news and geopolitics.

At the time, Ayman said Abdullah’s six-year premiership from 2003 marked a critical period in global geopolitics.

“In the midst of this transitional era, Malaysia was fortunate to have a leader like Tun Abdullah. Calm, composed, and one who practised a moderate yet wise diplomacy,” he wrote.

He added that one of the most ‘genius’ moves of Abdullah’s era was hosting the first EAS when Malaysia chaired ASEAN in 2005.

The EAS brought together ASEAN with China, Japan, and South Korea – three East Asian powers often at odds, yet able to sit at the same table through the EAS.

He described the “pen” moment as a highly symbolic turning point that reflected Tun Abdullah’s diplomatic finesse.

“I’m not sure if it was intentional or simply protocol, but Koizumi and Wen were seated next to each other, even though they couldn’t ‘see eye to eye’.

Coincidentally (again, I’m not sure whether by design or not), Koizumi’s pen on the table had no ink just when all the EAS leaders were to sign the Kuala Lumpur Declaration.

So, Koizumi borrowed a pen from Wen. Wen appeared hesitant at first – to pass it or not?

But Tun Abdullah, who was beside Wen, reportedly encouraged him to lend the pen to Koizumi.

Eventually, Wen handed over the pen. Koizumi accepted it.

With just one small gesture, Malaysia helped ease tensions between two East Asian powers,” Ayman wrote in his reflection.

That, he said, is the art of Malaysian diplomacy – subtle yet meaningful. No need for grand slogans or flashy images; simply acting as an “honest broker” building bridges between rival powers.

“And Tun Abdullah is one of the finest figures in mastering that art,” he concluded.

Abdullah, affectionately known as Pak Lah, passed away in Kuala Lumpur on Monday at the age of 85.

He was laid to rest with full state honours at the Heroes’ Mausoleum near Masjid Negara (National Mosque) on Tuesday.

-- BERNAMA