ASIAN REGIONALISM

ASIA
is the largest continent in the world in terms of both land area
and population. It covers around 17 million square miles and
over four billion individuals live in Asia. Asia is divided into 48
countries

REGIONS IN ASIA
Central Asia
East Asia
South Asia
Southeast Asia
and Western Asia.
ASIAN REGIONALISM
• Asian regionalism is the product of economic
interaction, not political planning. As a result of
successful, outward oriented growth strategies, Asian
economies have grown not only richer, but also closer
together.
 GLOBALIZATION VS REGIONALISM
GLOBALIZATION
• describe the growing
interdependence of the
world's economies, cultures,
and populations, brought
about by cross-border trade
in goods and services,
technology, and flows of
investment, people, and
information.
REGIONALISM
• Regionalism is a political
ideology which seeks to
increase the political power,
influence and/or self-
determination of the people
of one or more subnational
regions.
WHY NATIONS PARTICIPATE REGIONALISM?
• Opportunities, threats and challenges prompt nation
states to bond together and forge ties and alliances
built on solid, legal frameworks with other nations.
• Nations believe that regionalism can boost and
support their national interest in economic, military,
political, and even cultural contexts.
REGIONALISM IN ASIA
• Asia’s Region is home to over half the world’s population, produces three
tenths of global output, and consistently records the world’s highest
economic growth rates.
• Asia’s economies are increasingly connected through trade, financial
transactions, direct investment, technology, labor and other tourist
flows, and other economic relationships.
• The regional order that is present in the Asian region is spurred by the
fact that there exists patterns of similarities too great to escape scrutiny.
• Asia’s strength derives from the openness, diversity, and dynamism of its
interconnected economies.
Advantages of Regionalism in Asia
1. Generate productivity gains, new ideas, and competition
2. Contribute to the efficiency and stability of global financial
markets
3. Diversify sources of global demand, helping to stabilize the
world economy and diminish the risks posed
4. Provide leadership
5. Create regional mechanisms
Organizations emerged in the Asian region:
• ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
• APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation)
• APT (ASEAN Plus Three)
• EAS (East Asian Summit)
• APc (Asia Pacific community)
• EAC (East Asian Community)
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
is a regional grouping that promotes economic,
political, and security cooperation.
• Members in ASEAN
• Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Aims and Purposes:
• To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural
development in the region
• To promote regional peace and stability
• To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance
• To provide assistance to each other
• To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilization of their
agricultural and industries, the expansion of their trade, including the
study of the problems of international commodity trade.
• To promote Southeast Asian studies
• To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing
international and regional organizations with similar aims and
purposes and explore all avenues for closer cooperation.
 APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation)
• The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation is a regional
economic forum established in the year 1989.
• APEC’s 21 members aim to create greater prosperity for the
people of the region by promoting balanced, inclusive,
sustainable, innovative and secure growth and by
accelerating regional economic integration.
 APT ASEAN Plus Three
• ASEAN+3 cooperation began in December 2007
• Institutionalized in 1999 when the Leaders issued a Joint Statement on
East Asia Cooperation at their third ASEAN+3 Summit in Manila.
• ASEAN agreed to strengthen partnership with the People’s Republic of
China (PRC), The Republic of Korea, and Japan.
• ASEAN Plus Three (APT) can be considered as a forum that functions
as a coordinator of co-operation between the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations and the three East Asian nations of China, Japan, and
the South Korea.
• APT is the latest development of East Asian regional co-operation.
 East Asian Summit
• The East Asia Summit is a unique Leaders-led forum of 18
countries of the Asia-Pacific Region
• It is formed to further the objectives of regional peace,
security, and prosperity.
• Established in 2005, EAS allows the principal players in the
Asia-Pacific region to discuss the issues of common interest
and concern, in an open and transparent manner, at the
highest level.
 ISSUES AND CONCERNS OF ASIAN
REGIONALISM:
KNOWN RISK UNKNOWN RISK

• Unpredictable economic climate • Financial Contagion

• Falling dollar • Deadly Diseases
• Rapidly rising energy, food and other (SARS, AVIAN Flue, COVID-19)
commodity prices
• Adverse effects of global warming
• New health or security threats – can
make flow of people and goods more
difficult and expensive
ACTIVITY 4:
• Difference between globalization and regionalism
• Why do countries form regional associations?
• What is the reason behind the idea of Asian
regionalism?