East Asian Way to a Community Building: Beyond the Barrier of Theoretical Perception

This article explores a new perspective on East Asian regional cooperation and integration. Conventionally studies on East Asian regional cooperation cast doubt on its plausibility and effectiveness, as existing theories on regional integration largely drawn from European experience argue. East Asia, however, has different circumstances and conditions. The authors rather than putting East Asia in a framework built on European experience, attempted to draw lessons from the experience of ASEAN. As an alternative to existing wisdom on East Asian regional cooperation and integration, the authors maintain that the East Asia should be flexible in its priority it does not necessarily begin with economic cooperation and it should deal with urgent regional issues first. In addition, if loose institution helps to build mutual confidence that will sustain continuous cooperation, there is no reason to stick to rigorous institutional framework from the beginning. Deepening of regional cooperation will consolidate institutional basis gradually. Finally, the authors argue for a regional leadership from middle and small powers rather than one from regional superpowers.