Economics, Politics and Public Policy in East Asia and the Pacific
Author: Jusuf Wanadi, CSIS, Jakarta
The sixth East Asia Summit (EAS) will be held in Bali in November, marked by the participation of two new members, Russia and the US.
The EAS is a pan-Asian dialogue forum on broad strategic, political and economic issues with the aim of promoting peace, stability and economic prosperity in East Asia. Read more…
Author: Liu Shuguang, Ocean University of China
China’s central government approved Guangdong Province’s plan to build a national-level marine economic-development zone on 20 July, establishing a clear trend in this direction.
Guangdong’s is the third plan approved so far this year, following those for Shandong and Zhejiang. Read more…
Author: Tan See Seng, RSIS
The Sixth East Asia Summit (EAS) will convene on 19 November in Bali, with the US and Russia as full members.
Yet doubts remain over the Summit’s prospects as a high-impact forum, and its likely contributions to East Asia’s peace and prosperity. Read more…
Author: Jayant Menon, ADB
When discussing Laos’ upcoming ASEAN membership with a senior government official in 1995, he insisted the reason his country wanted to join the regional organisation was because Vietnam had just done so.
The response revealed two things. First, Laos, like its neighbouring ASEAN aspirants at the time — Cambodia and Myanmar — did not want to be left behind, and wanted out of the economic wilderness by joining ‘the club’. Second, there was very little appreciation of what membership would entail, let alone what it could evolve into. Read more…
Author: Maria Monica Wihardja, CSIS, Jakarta
The sixth East Asia Summit (EAS) will take place on 19 November in Bali, with its newest members — the US and Russia — breathing new life into the forum.
While the Summit’s original objective of serving as a forum for dialogue on broad strategic, political and economic issues remains important, the US and Russia’s inclusion has now opened an opportunity for greater geopolitical security dialogue. Read more…
Author: Andy Yee, Hong Kong
Geopolitical tensions continue to simmer in the South China Sea after the Obama administration’s declaration last year of a US ‘return to Asia’ stirred up regional dynamics.
Now, non-claimant states India and Japan are entering into the fray. Read more…
Author: Peter Drysdale, ANU
Whatever is done to re-position Asian regional architecture, it needs to take account of Asia’s new role in global economic governance.
It needs to attend to the implications of Asia’s rise for political and security affairs. Read more…
Author: Mahani Zainal Abidin, ISIS
Asian institutions for regional integration have proliferated since the 1998 financial crisis. They range from highly formal to very informal.
Most were not based on a grand design or mission but were responses to key issues. Some institutions evolved according to the needs of the market, and their final form owes much to pragmatism and flexibility. Read more…
Author: Masahiro Kawai, ADBI
According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) study Institutions for Asian Integration: Toward an Asian Economic Community (2010), Asia is supported by a dense web of 40 overlapping regional and sub-regional institutions that promote regional cooperation and integration at the intergovernmental level.
Yet with few formal or explicit commitments from members of these institutions, Asia remains ‘institution-light’. Read more…
Author: Henry Makeham, ACYD
There is still uncertainty surrounding China’s future economic, political and strategic intentions in the Asia Pacific.
Recognising a fundamental paradigm shift in the region, then-Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced on 4 June 2008 his intention ‘to begin the conversation about where we need to go’ to strengthen regional cooperation in the Asia Pacific via the idea of an Asia Pacific Community (APC). Read more…
Author: Rizal Sukma, CSIS Jakarta
Indonesia has taken consistent steps to rebuild its international image since emerging from the political turmoil of 1998–1999.
The country has focussed on re-establishing its leadership role within ASEAN, and has demonstrated a desire to assume a global role by promoting itself as the world’s third largest democracy, largest moderate Muslim-majority country, and as a ‘bridge-builder’ and a ‘problem-solver’ in the wider global community. Read more…
Authors: Peter Drysdale and Shiro Armstrong, East Asia Forum
Suddenly Asia has emerged as a major player in the global economy.
Asia already accounts for 27 per cent of world GDP and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) 2050 Report issued last May suggests that it will account for as much as 51 per cent a generation hence. Read more…
Author: Shekhar Shah, NCAER, Delhi
We live in troubled times. The Dow has taken several multi-hundred point hits as fears rise and fall on Europe’s debt crisis.
The rising debt crisis has left many seriously doubting the United States’ ability to provide global economic leadership. And the news about the global economy’s slowing down is not good. Read more…
Author: Peter Drysdale, Editor, East Asia Forum
Indonesia is undoubtedly one of the most under-estimated countries in Asia.
After three decades of authoritarian rule under President Suharto, it has transformed into a robust democracy. It re-emerged from the Asian financial crisis as undisputed leader within ASEAN. Read more…
Author: Evelyn Goh, University of London
After nearly a year of tensions over conflicting territorial claims, East Asian waters have calmed significantly.
At last month’s ASEAN meetings, China and the ASEAN nations agreed on guidelines for implementing the 2002 Declaration of Conduct to govern their activities in the South China Sea. Read more…