Amid political and economic problems at home, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member countries have recently pledged additional efforts toward regional integration. In the latest Senior Officials Meeting (SOM), ASEAN officials focused on promoting member cooperation, narrowing the development gap and developing human resources and information technology.
An agreement was reached at the SOM to organize an East Asia research group to boost regional cooperation. Although the structure, regulations and principles of the research group have not been finalized, it will be comprised of ASEAN's general secretary and deputy foreign ministers of the 10 ASEAN members and China, Japan and South Korea. The group is expected to forge closer ties among the "ASEAN-plus-three."
This development unfolds as a backdrop to President Chen Shui-bian's (
The top motivations for the Southeast Asian states to unite are at least two-fold.
On the economic front, Southeast Asian countries await recovery from the devastation of the Asian financial crisis. Japan has played a vital role in the integration of Southeast Asian economies through its massive investment. But now, even the Japanese economy is ill, without any readily apparent cure.
The contrasting economic competitiveness and the market attractiveness of China makes the Southeast Asian countries see joining forces as inevitable if they are to survive the economic downturn and meet the challenges of a globalizing economy.
On the security front, the Southeast Asian nations are wary of their declining strategic significance to the US since the end of the Cold War. Asia's peace and stability has been underpinned by the strategic US-Japan partnership in much of the post-WWII period. But the emergence of China is becoming one of the most destabilizing factors in the region, severely testing existing alliances. The Southeast Asian states are uncertain about the US' engagement in Asian affairs under the newly-inaugurated administration of George W. Bush. However, the rise of China as a regional power, the potential threat of its military build-up, and its will to raise its regional stature are unambiguous.
The latest example is China's hosting of the Bo'ao Forum for Asia every year. While the forum is intended to be non-governmental and non-political in nature, observers found the messages of the forum were meant to balance those from the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Quite clearly, like China's proposal of the East Asia Free Trade Area, the Bo'ao forum is yet another means for China to assert its influence in Southeast Asia and counterbalance the US.
Individually speaking, no Asian country can compete with China's growing influence, and so they must pursue integration besides hoping the US will stay actively engaged in the region.
Strategically, joining forces not only enhances Southeast Asia's international prominence, but gives Southeast Asian countries more elbowroom in regional power politics. In a sense, "ASEAN-plus-three" can be seen as an ASEAN initiative to positively engage China and keep Japan and South Korea actively involved. From this perspective, the development and progress of the East Asian research group will be a good indicator of the extent to which the Southeast Asian countries unite themselves in dealing with their formidable neighbor to the north.
To avoid its marginalization in East Asia, Taiwan must step up its efforts in strengthening relations with ASEAN and in becoming an ASEAN dialogue partner.
Wu Pei-shih is an editorial assistant for the Taipei Times.
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