Near-simultaneous leadership changes in China, Japan and South Korea offer East Asia a fresh start after a period of tension, say analysts, despite the hawkish pedigree of those coming to power.
After elections in Tokyo and Seoul this week and with Beijing's leadership tussles resolved by last month's Communist Party conference, the region's three biggest economies could be over a hump.
All three new leaders have less incentive to play to their galleries freeing them to be more pragmatic in their dealings abroad, said Zhou Weihong, a Japan specialist at Beijing Foreign Studies University.
"Relations should generally turn better" he said. "There likely will be more room for cooperation between China, Japan and South Korea."
All three face problems from the stumbling world economy and the successful launch of a North Korean rocket last week adds to regional uncertainty.
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