East Asian Developments and Contrasting Views among ASEAN Member Nations over East Asian Regionalism

Certain developments are emerging in East Asia that could accentuate the divisions among ASEAN members over East Asian regionalism. One is the trend toward financial and trade cooperation between ASEAN and Northeast Asian countries that will make it difficult for ASEAN to resist East Asian regionalism. Another is the growing global economic importance of East Asia that can reduce ASEAN's centrality in this regionalism. These divisions are most pronounced between Malaysia and Indonesia. While Malaysia wants the regional grouping to be a community, Indonesia sees it as basically functional in purpose. Malaysia, unlike Indonesia, sees some economic, especially financial, benefit from the regional grouping. China is not seen by Malaysia as a threat to the region and can best be accommodated in Malaysia's preferred grouping, the ASEAN Plus Three, while Indonesia favors the East Asia Summit where India can help balance China.