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The road to an East Asian community

Toshio Yamamoto

The Japan-India relationship if strengthened could provide a model for integration of an East Asian community.

TODAY, THE economy of East Asia is vibrant and growing. The nations of the region are deeply linked through intra-regional trade and cooperation — what is often referred to as the region's "de facto economic integration." On the other hand, in the political and security aspects, the nations of the region remain extremely diverse. Different types of political systems and principles continue to coexist. It is simply unthinkable at the moment to create an overarching political and security framework, like NATO. Regional stability has primarily been and will continue to be maintained through the building up of bilateral security agreements, centred around the United States.

The Asian financial crisis of 1997 and 1998 developed a wide consensus that there is a need to promote greater cooperation within the region to prevent future crises. For the prosperity and growth of the region, it is necessary to secure a successful model of economic development, which is the benign circle of introduction of foreign investment from outside the region, and intensification of intra-regional trade. For this formula to continue working, the region, comprising countries with diverse political systems and beliefs, must avert collision of naked national interests and initiate an institutionalised stabilising mechanism to resolve problems peacefully. Its attractiveness as a foreign direct investment (FDI) destination depends more and more on the conflict-solving capabilities of the region as a whole. We don't have the luxury of letting rising nationalism and political differences lead to serious conflicts.

Under these circumstances, the first East Asia Summit (EAS) will convene in Malaysia on December 14. Japan has set forth several principles regarding regional cooperation in East Asia. These principles are "open regionalism," "functional approach," and "respect for and realisation of universal values and rules such as democracy."

Firstly, an East Asian community (EAc) must be open to those nations with willingness and capability to contribute to its formation. Furthermore, regional cooperation to realise an EAc should be based on the principles of openness, transparency, and inclusiveness.

Secondly, it is realistic to focus regional cooperation in "functional" fields at the present, rather than trying to build comprehensive institutional frameworks from the outset. A region-wide community can be created in the future by combining the frameworks established in each individual functional sector, such as energy, the environment, and non-traditional security issues.

Thirdly, member countries need to overcome their differences over political systems and principles to commit themselves to establish an EAc as a grouping bound by a common fate. Thus, the nations of the region should start the integration process in a correct manner from the outset, so that an EAc would be based on universal values and global rules such as democracy and open-market economy. This would help secure understanding and support both within and outside the region.

What can Japan and India do to facilitate this integration process? ASEAN should not feel insulated from the process and continue to occupy the driver's seat at the EAS. The commitment of the U.S. in the region, especially on security aspects, must be maintained. Rapidly developing China must play an important role in the development of an EAc in an open, transparent, and inclusive manner. I believe that Japan and India can play a vital role in providing fundamental conditions to achieve these intricate goals by establishing norms for the construction of an EAc.

Japan and India are two responsible and major players in Asia, sharing common values and principles. Furthermore, Japan and India have strong spiritual affinities, and a long history of friendship without disputes. I believe this unique relationship, if further strengthened, would be an ideal prototype of an EAc, which member countries could replicate in their relationships with one another. In other words, the commonalities between the two countries could be the engine for promoting the integration process. It is important to enhance political and security cooperation, and comprehensive economic engagement. But it is also vital to strengthen cultural and academic initiatives and people-to-people contacts, to raise the visibility and profile of one country in the other. By doing so, Japan and India can not only draw closer, but also consolidate universal values and socio-cultural bonds in this region as a basis of an EAc.

The inauguration of the EAS would be the first important step toward an Eac. Japan wholeheartedly welcomes India as an original member of the EAS. Japan and India can work closely together, based on the Japan-India Global Partnership with strategic orientation, and play a leading role in bearing the fruits of constructing an EAc.

(The author is Counsellor and Head of the Information and Cultural Section in the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi. The article reflects the author's personal views and does not represent the views of other people or organisations.)

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