QUOTE(YaoRocks @ Mar 24 2007, 02:23 AM) [snapback]2811840[/snapback]
There used to be loose union of sort. The relation was defined by small states paying tribune to China, in exchange for acceptance and protection. And it worked quite well, for a long time until the western imperialists came along and messed everything.
If there is ever going to be a 2nd union, it most likely will be along the same line, but with trade as the link.
The Japanese stopped paying tribute after the Anlushan Rebelion, after that there was no longer an imminent threat of a Chinese invasion.
The Koreans became a tributary state again after centuries of autonomy, because they were devastated by the Imjin War and could not resist the Ming in case of an invasion. The Qing were far too powerful for the Koreans so they continued to pay tribute.
And tribute wasn't really what you might think it was. In Imperial China, tribute was often another name for imports and exports were referred to as "gifts". This allowed trade between the Chinese Empire and the surrounding kingdoms while still allowing the Chinese Empire the nominal status as the leader. The truth was, none of the tributary states really had much to offer. Their entire treasuries were nothing compared to the wealth of the Chinese emperor. These smaller kingdoms also knew they were secure from invasion because it would cost more to mount a campaign to invade and occupy the country than that could be gotten from taking it. Sort of like Iraq...