Indonesia and Malaysia, for instance, are Muslim countries with no historic connection to Chinese culture or, for that matter, to Confucianism. The Philippines, essentially a Catholic country and a former Spanish and American colony, has received strong Western influence and can hardly be considered a member of the predominently Buddhist East Asian community. Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, on the other hand, are culturally closer to India and their branch of Buddhism, coming directly from India, is more austere than Chinese Buddhism which is strongly tempered by Confucian optimism. While Japan, South Korea and Taiwan have attained the status of democratic and industrialized nations, Indonesia and Singapore are still under authoritarian regimes and China, Vietnam and North Korea are struggling to remain communist states. In contrast to a united European community which shares the same Western values of democracy and individual freedom, the East Asian countries are torn by ideological conflicts and territorial disputes.
Dictatorial regimes pose the greatest war-making risks.
In this respect, Western nations would do well to let Asia's increasingly affluent middle class push for democratic reforms rather than relying on their campaign for human rights and democracy. In the meantime, the West can take comfort from East Asia's arms race. The sale of expensive American F-16's and French mirages not only offsets the disappointing export of cars to Japan and computers to Taiwan but provides a powerful leverage on recipient countries which depend on the West for maintenance and spare parts. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reprint our stories without our permission.