Economic integration among Asian Countries
1. Description
Since Bandung Conference and the onset of The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN, Countries in Asia region have tried to cooperate in many sectors. However, the main reason of these efforts is economic cooperation. China technically joined the club and the combined new association is called 'ASEAN + 1'. ASEAN has tried to sign a Treaty of Amity and Cooperation[1] with most of its neighbours. Korea and Japan and Singapore are discussing FTA respectively. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) further tries to widen its scope beyond its region:
2. Enablers
3. Inhibitors
- nationalism
- Sino-Japan rivalry
- Japan's refusal to repent for its past:
4. Paradigms
With more cooperation among Asian countries, the Asian region can represent the leading economic block surpassing the U.S. and the EU in terms of people and resources. Then the orientalism can be overcome, which is cast by the western cultures. The more balanced world view can emerge with the awaking of Asia. Asian values will be better studied as an alternative to material-oriented western life style:
5. Experts
NA
6. Timing
- Apr 1955 : Bandung Conference
- Aug 1967 : Foundation of ASEAN
- Nov 1993 : The first APEC Leaders' Meeting
- Jan 1995 : WTO
- Dec 2001 : China joined the WTO