Asia Times Online :: China News, China Business News, Taiwan and Hong Kong News and Business.

09-11-03 10:23 AM

Front Page
Greater China
Greater China
China Business Oct 22, 2009
South Asia
Southeast Asia
Japan
Korea
COMMENT
Middle East Why an East Asian Community matters
Central Asia By Jian Junbo
World Economy
Asian Economy SHANGHAI - The concept of an East Asian Community (EAC),
IT World which Yukio Hatoyama strongly advocated even before he was
Book Reviews elected as Japan's prime minister in September, has aroused
Letters heated debate in the countries concerned, including economic
Forum powerhouse China.

The summit of China, Japan and South Korea in Beijing last

week did not formally discuss or endorse the formation of the
EAC, but this does not mean China is not interested in the idea.
The crux of the matter is how to make the formation feasible.

According to some sources, the trilateral summit last week did

not to discuss EAC simply because no feasible proposal was

Japan trusts in
change (Oct 29, '09)

Hatoyama sets
global marker
(Sep 25, '09)

Cautious welcome
for Japan's Asia
drive (Sep 24, '09)

1. Saudi-Iranian
hostility hits boiling
point
2. When the cat's
away, the mice kill
presented for discussion. The feasibility of the EAC is something each other
worth discussion, and in China its "workability" is widely debated.
The idea of the EAC was not initiated by Hatoyama. Former 3. China opens a
Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad said as early as new front in Kashmir
1990 that East Asia (including Southeast Asia) should unite as a 4. Jundallah versus
community to reduce the influence of the United States in the the mullahtariat
region and to enhance independence. The former prime minister 5. Swarms of rats
of Japan, Junichiro Koizumi, had also once advocated the plague rural
formation of the EAC. Myanmar
Regional integration and cooperation on a similar concept started 6. A new battle
in the 1980s, long before the EAC idea was conceived. Why has begins in Pakistan
the idea now become more attractive than before, especially as 7. Iran's nuclear
the process of actual economic integration in the region has talks also hit
been in progress for years? 8. Rent-seekers'
nirvana
This can be explained from two perspectives. One is the fast
9. IMF defends

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/KJ22Ad03.html Page 1 of 4
Asia Times Online :: China News, China Business News, Taiwan and Hong Kong News and Business. 09-11-03 10:23 AM

development of regional economies, symbolized by the rise of 9. IMF defends

East Asian countries, international trade and financial lending policies
cooperation in the region. These trends demand a higher degree 10. Red meat back
of East Asian integration, especially amid and in the aftermath of on (some) Russian
the global financial crisis. Fast economic growth and the need tables
for closer financial cooperation in East Asia demand closer ties (24 hours to 11:59pm ET,
among the countries of the region. Oct 20, 2009)

Nevertheless, what motivated Japan's new leader to advocate

the EAC is more about Japan's national interests.

Japan was occupied by the United States after the end of World Superfusion
War II, in 1945. The US-Japan alliance was formed when the Vividly written
Cold War began, and strengthened when the Korea War broke and timely
out in the early 1950s. Even after the Cold War came to an end reminder of the
in the 1990s, the US-Japan bond has not dissolved. risk that binds
US & China
Since 1945, Japan has hardly been an independent state www.RiverTwice.com
politically or diplomatically, and its defense and foreign policies
are highly dependent on US policy toward the Japanese. For
many years, Japan has largely benefited from this alliance and Japan Market
its dependence on the US. Research
Market report &
Yet, in the post-Cold War era, Japan's importance to the US has research,
declined, and its economy has been mired in periods of Business
recession or slow growth. In recent years, especially after the development;
September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Quick & low cost
Washington, the US has concentrated more on the Middle East www.hello-global.com
and its war against the Taliban and al-Qaeda

In turn, Japan has increasingly felt that its national security is not
safeguarded - especially from the perceived threats of North
China's
Korea and China. Globalization
Free report on
Japan now seeks a more independent relationship with the US China's plan to
to enhance its national interests and influence in East Asia. globalize.
MoneyMorning.com/China_globalizatio
Being a leader or an influential founding member of the EAC
would promote Japanese interests and enhance its lost power.

Suspicions have arisen about Japan's "selfish" motives in Asian Dating &
proposing the EAC. Still, a country's foreign policy is primarily Chat
meant to serve its national interests. The question is whether The Odds Are In
other countries - such as China - could also benefit from Your Favor -
formation of the EAC. Women Join For
Free, Men
China could benefit. First of all, a more independent Japan and
a new regional organization like an EAC are both in accord with
Browse For Free!
Mate1.com
China’s diplomatic strategy of striving for a multipolar world. The
successful construction of a comprehensive community in East
Asia would promote long-term peace and stability in the region -
a crucial factor for China to develop its economy.

Closer regional integration would help China divert its exports,

and reduce its reliance on US and European markets. Given
China's economic muscle today, it could certainly play a leading
role in the EAC.

Mutual trust is of utmost importance to make the EAC feasible.

In this regard, Japan needs to adopt a more sincere attitude
about its alleged war crimes in the past to win back the trust of
Asian neighbors.

Because of historical feuds, territorial disputes, conflicts and

mistrust among countries in the region, a number of analysts in
China, as well as in Japan and other Asia countries, have
thrown cold water on the EAC idea. Some have called it
"mission impossible".

Still, many scholars in China still feel an EAC is feasible if it is

approached with economic integration based on existing
mechanisms - and other controversies can be set aside for the
time being.

Last week, Chinese, Japanese and South Korean leaders agreed

on deeper cooperation among the three countries as key trade

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/KJ22Ad03.html Page 2 of 4
Asia Times Online :: China News, China Business News, Taiwan and Hong Kong News and Business. 09-11-03 10:23 AM

partners. Japan, after all, is the biggest importer of China-made

goods. Closer cooperation between these three countries could
be a starting point for the formation of the EAC.

South Korea could also benefit from the EAC. Such a regional
bloc would enhance Seoul's international position as an equal
partner of China and Japan in the grouping.

These three economically vital countries in East Asia should

theoretically all support the EAC idea. There is also the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with which
China is soon to sign a free trade agreement.

Hatoyama did not elaborate on his EAC idea. He and his

colleagues have claimed in recent weeks that this community
should consist of 16 countries, including Australia, New Zealand
and India. Hatoyama has never stated clearly whether the EAC
should be an economic cooperation body or whether cooperation
should extend to other areas, such as military agreements and
diplomatic ties.

Beijing may be in favor of a community with 13 countries - such

as the ASEAN+3 which is currently in operation. To make things
easier, the EAC should be formed as a body of economic
cooperation in non-disputed areas to start with. Only after
mutual trust is gained by its members through economic
cooperation, can cooperation in other fields be discussed.

There are other obstacles to the formation of the EAC. The US

won't approve of a regional community dominated by East Asian
powers, and would have a hard time tolerating Japan's total
independence.

Kurt Campbell, the US assistant secretary of state in charge of

Asian and Pacific affairs, claimed in Beijing last Wednesday that
the US should not be excluded from the East Asian Community.

There also seems to be little urgency for the EAC to be formed;

there are no strong pressures or urgent national security threats
from outside the region to stir immediate action. In the past,
such motivating factors have swiftly united neighboring countries
and accelerated regional integration and solidarity. For example,
when Western Europe began its integration in the 1950s, it was
threatened by the former Soviet Union and its communist bloc
proxies.

The emergence of ASEAN was also stimulated by outside

threats.

Yet, among East Asian economic or political powers, apart from

Japanese fears over would-be threats from North Korea and
China, no country worries much about military threats or political
subversion. Additionally, the existing de facto international
arrangements for integration, such as the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC), ASEAN+3 and the East Asia Summit, are
functioning at the moment.

Historical and territorial issues in East Asia will likely also remain
a barrier for this region's integration. It remains difficult for China
and Japan to transfer the resources of economic development in
debated sea areas to a multinational institution, as European
nations did in the early stages of integration.

In regards to these difficulties and challenges, some argue that

the EAC is still impossible. Yet difficulties, challenges and
differences should not be an excuse to forsake the commitment
to East Asia’s integration.

The construction of an international community is never

completed overnight. The European Union, for example,
originated from the European Community, which started the end
of World War II, when the two biggest members of the
community - France and Germany - were enemies. This
suggests that two enemies can be friends under the framework
of one international community.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/KJ22Ad03.html Page 3 of 4
Asia Times Online :: China News, China Business News, Taiwan and Hong Kong News and Business. 09-11-03 10:23 AM

Furthermore, the community is never a finished framework but a

changing process of integration. If France and Germany can be
friends and push together for regional integration, so can China,
Japan and Korea.

The EAC should be gradually pushed forward. Because even the

movement's chief advocate, Hatoyama, cannot depict clearly its
structure, and there is no consensus on the EAC's aims and
functions, the community should be built gradually from the low
to high levels. It should be first organized as a free trade region
under a technological and societal cooperative structure.

The success and significance of the East Asian Community will

be based on its different mission with regard to other Asian
regional organizations, such as APEC, ASEAN+3 and the East
Asian Summit.

Its main function would be to provide East Asia with stability and
economic prosperity. Other aspects and ambitions can only be
realized once this first step is taken.

Dr Jian Junbo is assistant professor of the Institute of

International Studies at Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

(Copyright 2009 Asia Times Online (Holdings) Ltd. All rights

reserved. Please contact us about sales, syndication and
republishing.)

www.RiverTwice.com Feedback - Ads by Google

All material on this website is copyright and may not be republished in any form without written permission.
© Copyright 1999 - 2009 Asia Times Online (Holdings), Ltd.
Head Office: Unit B, 16/F, Li Dong Building, No. 9 Li Yuen Street East, Central, Hong Kong
Thailand Bureau: 11/13 Petchkasem Road, Hua Hin, Prachuab Kirikhan, Thailand 77110

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/KJ22Ad03.html Page 4 of 4