Asia-Pacific Development Research (Volume 4)

Author: Yang Luhui et al. (Editor-in-Chief)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: East Asia, as a region, is primarily geographically connected. The countries are either adjacent to each other or connected by land, or separated by a narrow strip of water, forming a natural bond. Of course, what truly shapes regional relationship structures are economic relationships and the comprehensive interest mechanisms built upon them. Historically, East Asia established close regional ties and formed a regional order centered around China. However, with the decline of Chinese power, this connection framework collapsed. Subsequently, Southeast Asia fell under colonial rule by Western powers, while Northeast Asia descended into chaos centered around the Sino-Japanese conflict. Notably, Japan, which subsequently rose, attempted to establish a "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" centered around itself through military force, but ultimately failed. East Asian cooperation differs from Europe in that it did not begin with a clear political goal or a unified consensus. Instead, it started from practical needs, with cooperative content gradually increasing and the cooperative mechanisms being established and refined step by step.