Economic interests have outweighed, if not eliminated, old grudges in East Asia. China, Japan and South Korea negotiated again in Tokyo last week for a trilateral free trade agreement. There were no concrete results this round, but Sun Yuanjiang, chief negotiator from China's Ministry of Commerce, said the negotiations are almost at the final stage.

The three countries are aiming high, with the hope that the negotiations, launched in 2012, will produce a comprehensive and high-standard deal.

The FTA could have huge impact on their own economies and the region beyond themselves, and the countries should be lauded for keeping the talks on track given the complex politics and myriad disagreements among them.