East Asian Community

[Majulah]

Is the idea proposed by former Japanese Prime Minister Hatoyama in which the countries of China, Japan, South Korea, and the 10 nations of ASEAN form a political and economic union that functions much like the EU possible? If it is possible sometime in the future, then should countries like India, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States be allowed to join as well?

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-b...0091116a2.html

[Viking Prince]

Since you have not provided a link, I have no idea what has been suggested (proposed is probably too strong of a word here).

I think it more likely that free trade associations will be set up on a bilateral basis with the EU and NAFTA. A recent news item regarding the EU approach to the ASEAN countries on this would be:

Free trade negotiations with ASEAN countries

EU Member States in December 2009 gave the green light for the Commission to pursue FTA negotiations with individual ASEAN countries, beginning with Singapore, i.e. the EU's foremost trading partner among the ASEAN countries. The door for other ASEAN countries willing to negotiate a comprehensive FTA remains open. At the same time, the EU has not lost sight of its ultimate goal of achieving an agreement within a regional framework.

Link

[Majulah]

Since you have not provided a link, I have no idea what has been suggested (proposed is probably too strong of a word here).

The proposition was discussed in an ASEAN plus three annual summit in Bangkok, Thailand last year. More talks are currently stalled since PM Hatoyama was ousted several months ago, but the idea is still on the table.

Here's the link to the news when it was first proposed:

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-b...0091116a2.html

That will never happen

It may happen in the very distant future, but, of course, uniting East and Southeast Asia will not be as easy as uniting Europe since there are many differences to be straightened out.

[Gunderic]

Is the idea proposed by former Japanese Prime Minister Hatoyama in which the countries of China, Japan, South Korea, and the 10 nations of ASEAN form a political and economic union that functions much like the EU possible? If it is possible sometime in the future, then should countries like Australia, New Zealand, and the United States be allowed to join as well?

That will never happen

[Remlap]

But then we take into account all the ratial hatred and prejudice of those countries towards one another and it will not happen. Sure the governments could say work together or else but I can't see Japan being able to enforce their population seeing as how they have no actuall army in the militant sense of the word. China could enforce this on its people but then they are Communists so why would they work with other nations for gdp gains? The whole idea of a capitalist communist society is quite silly and it is just a matter of time until either the populace ousts the government or the government cracks down on the populace, in either scenario I think we will find that China won't be ready to enter a union of anysort for a while after that. If this could be achieved it would be monumental, however I don't see all of these nations having their own respective ghandi's coming any time soon and pacifying their hatred and then doing a full reversal to become a business tycoon and unite to gain wealth.

[Majulah]

But then we take into account all the ratial hatred and prejudice of those countries towards one another and it will not happen. Sure the governments could say work together or else but I can't see Japan being able to enforce their population seeing as how they have no actuall army in the militant sense of the word. China could enforce this on its people but then they are Communists so why would they work with other nations for gdp gains? The whole idea of a capitalist communist society is quite silly and it is just a matter of time until either the populace ousts the government or the government cracks down on the populace, in either scenario I think we will find that China won't be ready to enter a union of anysort for a while after that. If this could be achieved it would be monumental, however I don't see all of these nations having their own respective ghandi's coming any time soon and pacifying their hatred and then doing a full reversal to become a business tycoon and unite to gain wealth.

I believe that China being "communist" in the sense of the word is more or less just a cover up nowadays. China does have more of a "regulated" capitalist economy rather than a true communist one. So, they should be willing to join the union for gdp gains and the overall money gains as well. As for the prejudice and racial hatred, I'm not sure if the issue is really as problematic as you make it sound. The real factors that deter a said union in this part of the world are more like differences in religion, cultural beliefs, historical hostilities, etc. However, I believe that most people in this part of the world are somewhat bound together by the "Asian Values" in which economic prosperity is put on the forefront of everyone's agenda. That may prove to be one of the driving forces for the creation of the union. Achieving permanent access to all of the fundamental physiological needs is and has been throughout history the priority goal of many peoples especially in Southeast Asia where a lot of the countries are still not developed.

[Gromovnik]

May the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere live for 10000 years under a wise guidance of the Yamato race...

[hellheaven1987]

That is an interesting idea, but I don't want to be part of it.

[strategist.com]

Interesting idea and I agree because I am an East Asian (Filipino) myself. This unity may bring prosperity to poor ASEAN countries just like what happened to the devastated countries of Europe after WWII. I'd say dispose the ASEAN, which is practically useless, and bring about this idea based from the structures of EU. Rich East Asian countries can help the poor member states like what EU does to it's poor members.

Of course as Majulah said, there is still differences, especially China so realistically speaking it may not happen in the near future.

[athanaric]

I'm tempted to say "China will grow larger" now.

Pretty interesting idea, though I can't really see Japan charming the others into it. Also, if they ever implement it, they should avoid creating a moloch like the EU - with a huge bureaucracy that constantly tries to infringe on the sovereignity of its member states.

[Chukada1]

Yes but the Japanese should not be allowed to join.

Their Asian Co-Prosperity sphere can be entirely left to themselves, without Japanese interference.

[hellheaven1987]

Yes but the Japanese should not be allowed to join.

Their Asian Co-Prosperity sphere can be entirely left to themselves, without Japanese interference.

That is racism.

[Farnan]

The memory of the Japanese atrocities during WWII has not been forgotten, nor forgiven yet.

[hellheaven1987]

The memory of the Japanese atrocities during WWII has not been forgotten, nor forgiven yet.

That is part of problems, but the main reason is that those actions cause distrust between Japanese and other Asians. Now, if Japan does not try to be the boss of this "East Asian Community" then it may still have room to be discussed, but since besides Japan the other choice is China, which has its own reasons why other Asians distrust Chinese, it is quite obviously that such union would not form before China achieve an acceptable democracy...

[jankren]

BANZAIIIII!!!

I think Australia and New Zealand are okay, but I think India is geographically too distant.

As for Japan, only Chinese and Koreans have problem with them. But then again, I dont think Japan is going to rise again in a very very long time.

[hellheaven1987]

Well, I wonder whether Indonesia can accept the decision to set up the South-East Asia regional center in either Singapore or Kuala Lumpur...

[jankren]

Well, I wonder whether Indonesia can accept the decision to set up the South-East Asia regional center in either Singapore or Kuala Lumpur...

You realize that if Southeast Asia became like the EU, within 20 years, everyone will be half Indonesian anyway right?

[hellheaven1987]

You realize that if Southeast Asia became like the EU, within 20 years, everyone will be half Indonesian anyway right?

That is very questionable if China is part of that union, since we all know Chinese is good to sexually conquer new regions.

[jankren]

That is very questionable if China is part of that union, since we all know Chinese is good to sexually conquer new regions.

And if they throw India in as well then we all in the middle are just gonna die from the dick fight between the Indians and the Chinese.

[RollingWave]

politically speaking the odds of something like the EU happening in the East Asian region is highly unlikely, too much differences amoung the key members that there's no way a unilaterale front can be achieved, economically the track is already laid and the train is about to set off