Roots and Implications of East Asian Regionalism

摘要

Regionalism in East Asia is driven by historical patterns of cooperation, the common challenge of the West, the century-long quest for an Asian identity, and growing economic interdependence and integration. Its progress is, however, likely to be slowed by Sino-Japanese rivalry, Southeast Asia's reluctance to fold itself into a larger East Asia, and public indifference. Moreover, few East Asians envision an exclusionary bloc that would leave out the United States, which remains a key economic partner and the ultimate guarantor of regional security. But even with American participation, East Asia's movement toward a grouping patterned after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) or anything resembling the European Union (EU) community would be incremental at best.