THE OPTIMISM OF EAST ASIAN INTEGRATION

Some people say: “Geography is a destiny”. We cannot choose where we live, wecannot decide who our neighbors are, whether we like it or not, and we have to take it.
Regardless that China, Japan and Korea share as one region based on geography, there
are some other factors that make these three countries considered as one region. The
trade and economy relation that has been built since ages is the other reason whenpeople see for a region. Beside, in order to create strong foundations of regional identity,these three countries have similarity in cultural and civilization. Not to mention that
hundreds years ago, Korean and Japan have adopted China‟s knowledge and culture forcivilization. These historical perspectives also enhance the migration or cross border
movement among these three countries that make people feel that they are in the sameregion.
However, living in the same region would also make a different perspectivefrom each country on how to see the history. East Asian peoples still take in account thedark period during Japan occupation during on what so called Greater East Asia
Co-Prosperity Sphere. The conflicts over history would color each national view ofhistory based on collective memory of each country. Though there some efforts needed tobuild one transnational history in term of bridging all the differences, still theseperspectives would play significant factors in creating East Asian Integration.
Not only the differences of national view of history, but the consciousness ofAsian also becomes a big factor regarding the differences between East Asian Countries,
in term of integration building. Western influences for Japanese people after Meiji
period made Japan has way of thinking and civilization in advance, yet by years,
influence Japanese consciousness of being Asian or have an Asian identity.
Based on realism view In International Relation theory, when two countries
have both strong economic and political power in one area, then they become a rival. As
China strong economics became an important player in Asia, even in various regionaland global forums, China has become an economic booster, substituting Japan‟s roles,
because the regional trades between China and East Asian economy grew and gainingbigger share within East Asian intra-regional trade. This condition makes a difference
perspective of Japan economist who tried to establish ASEAN + 6 (China, Japan, Korea,Australia, India, and New Zealand) FTA, rather than ASEAN + 3 (China, Japan, Korea)
FTA, where China would be estimated as big part of roles player in economicintegration.
All those differences seem bigger than similarity among Japan, Korea andChina. It needs other factors to strengthen the intention towards East Asia Integration.

The strong tendency of security dilemma dynamics in East Asia such as North Korean
nuclear weapon and political geography issues would heighten integration become
important. In economic fields, being integrated into one regional will enhance thenegotiations leverage in the world issues, especially when defending against risingregionalism as NAFTA and EU in international trade. Being integrated into one also
promote good condition of domestic reform of one country and show that this country isreliable holding onto commitment. The stalemate in the Doha Development Agenda(DDA) and the on-going multilateral trade negotiation under World Trade Organization(WTO) also the factors why integration in economic in form of FTA would be like domino
effects, increasing high in numbers.
Integration in East Asia definitely needs those various factors and motivations
above. On the other hand, the understanding of regional strength and weakness willease the process of integration itself. In fact, the position of East Asia in international
trade has the biggest share GDP in the world (37,8% in 2006) compare to other region(NAFTA: 23,1%, Middle Asia: 6%, EU: 20%, South America: 7,4%, Africa: 2,6%,).
However intra regional trade of East Asia is slightly below other regions. Regional trade
among East Asia in 2005 is only 40% compare to total trade made by East Asia
countries. And only China, Japan, Korea, and H.K who have intra-regional tradevolume more than 1% of world-trade volume. Intra-regional trade among EU countries
in 2005 is more than 55% compare to total trade made by EU countries. Most of EU
countries (except Iberia and North Europe) have intra regional trade volume more than1% of world trade volume. And about NAFTA, in 2005 the data show how they have wellintegrated market. Intra-regional trade among NAFTA countries in 2005 is more than
65% compare to total trade made by NAFTA countries. All three countries of NAFTA
have intra regional trade volume more than 3% of world trade volume.
Different with economy fact that has the biggest share GDP in the world,
security integration in North East Asia become more interesting when looking at thearms race. China, Japan and Korea spend less than 2% of GDP for defense, on the otherhand, other region countries defense spending is on average 2,5-3 percent of GDP. China
has only $48 defense spending per capita, $330 for Japan and $320 defense spending
per capita for Korea. On the other hand, U.S spends $1,500 per capita, $790 for U.K.,$760 for France, $1.560 for Israel, $1770 for Kuwait, and $1150 for Singapore. Looking
at these facts, North East Asian Countries needs some multilateral security mechanism
such as Six Party Talks as a confidence building measure. It needs deepen
understanding for China to knowing that maintaining the US presence in Japan is oneof the critical values to countering the security dilemma in East Asia.

Despite of Economy and Security fields, building intellectual infrastructureof people in East Asia is also important. Integration in Education Institution would bedesirably needed in East Asia countries, like ASEAN Countries that already has
SEAMEO (South East Asian Ministers of Education Organization). All the efforts tocreate an East Asian Integration absolutely take time, through discussion, workshop,forums, seminars and agreement among those countries. Knowledge about basic
fundamental disciplinary studies will be very important in finding the optimum way indeveloping a model for regional integration. The urgency of learning and understandingof aspect about Regional Integration, will establish the intellectual infrastructure forthe regional integration in Asia, and perhaps will ease the progress made toward East
Asian Integration. Each country‟s education institution that can participate infacilitating program studies about East Asian Integration would be important to create.
To analyze strength and weakness in East Asia countries through diamondmodel by understanding the strategy, structure, and rivalry, the factor and demandconditions and related and supporting sectors of this region, will ease the progress
toward East Asian Integration. Integration in East Asia is totally desirable and needed,no matter how hard and how long it takes. Not only because we have to prevent andsolve the traditional security factors, but also to think about non-traditional securities

factors for human kind, such as refugees, environmental issues, human trafficking. It istrue that East Asian Integration would bring benefit to East Asian countries, but itwould be possible that East Asian Integration would also gain the benefit for the wholeworld.

Robert Jackson and Georg Sorensen, Introduction to International Relations. Theories and approaches (New York:Oxford University Press, 2007 )Takashi Terada, ”Constructing an „East Asian‟ concept and growing regional identity: from EAEC to ASEAN+3”, The

Pacific Review 16:2(2003)
Most of material of this paper is based on lectures of Regional Integration Summer School Beijing-Tokyo-Seoul(lectures in order listed):
1.

Prof. Jin Hyun Paik, “Korean Politics and Inter-Korean Relations”, Lecture on August 11th 2008, Seoul
National University, Korea

2.

Prof. Tsuneo Akaha, “Integration in East Asia and Security Issues in North East Asia”, Lecture on August 5,2008, Waseda University, Japan

3.

Prof. Hatsue Shinohara, “From Collective Memory to Transnational History”, Lecture on August 5, 2008,Waseda University, Japan

4.

Prof. Wang Jisi, “New Trend of China‟s Diplomatic Relations”, Lecture on August 1st, 2008, Shanghai
University of Finance and Economics, China.

5.

Prof. Taeho Bark, “Regionalism in Asia and Kore‟s External Economic Strategy”, Lecture on August 13th, 2008,
Seoul National University, South Korea

6.

Prof. Shujiro Urata, “Japan and East Asia: Changing Economic Relations”, Lecture on August 8th, 2008,
Waseda University, Japan

7.

Prof. Chong-Sup Kim, “Global Production Network in East Asia”, Lecture on August 13 th 2008, Seoul NationalUniversity, Korea.

8.

Prof. Akiko Kamogawa, “Asian Integration and Student Mobility”, Lecture on August 7 th 2008, Waseda
University, Japan

9.

Prof. Hwy Chang Moon, “Korean Economy and Business in Globalizing World”, Lecture on August 11 th 2008,Seoul National University, Korea.