Miles Kahler:Creating a new regional order in East Asia

A regional institution with broad scope, covering both political and economic issues, and one that brings together top leaders in an organized summit setting is one path for encouraging positive linkage between the two domains.

By Chen Lijuan

Chen Lijuan:You mentioned that economic interdependence is a guarantee of Asian regional order. As we all know, while the integration in the economic area has moved forward, the cooperation in the political area between governments has lagged behind. In your opinion, why does this phenomenon exist? How to solve this problem?

Miles Kahler: East Asian governments have largely separated economic and political-military issues as the region has become more integrated. This approach is valuable in maintaining economic ties during periods of political conflict, but the positive spillovers from economic integration are also reduced. A regional institution with broad scope, covering both political and economic issues, and one that brings together top leaders in an organized summit setting is one path for encouraging positive linkage between the two domains. The East Asia Summit could become such a forum.

Chen Lijuan:There is a popular view that China-centered hierarchy is one avenue to the maintenance of a peaceful order in the region, what’s your opinion? And what kind of role should, or can China, act?

Miles Kahler: Hierarchy of the type that once characterized East Asia is an unlikely future for the region. The region contains large nation-states, other than China, that would be very unlikely to accept a subordinate status in such a system. Chinese leadership in regional issues would probably be welcomed, however.

Chen Lijuan:The United States take an important role in the Asia area, especially in its relations with China, so what do you think of the hierarchical orders between the United States and China in the Asia area?

Miles Kahler: Neither the United States nor China can sustain a hierarchical order in the region; rivalry between the two would also be damaging to regional order. Participation in the design of a new regional order on the part of both China and the United States is the optimal course of action for East Asia. Both China and the United States share broad goals of peace and economic integration for the region.

Chen Lijuan:There exists many disputes, like longstanding maritime disputes and historical problems among Asian countries; the recent standoff between China and the Philippines at the Scarborough Shoal is a dramatic example. Can these problems be solved? Do you have any proposal to enhance the consensus and trust among Asian countries?

Miles Kahler: Unlike Latin America and Europe, East Asia has not found an accepted regional formula for resolving territorial and maritime disputes. Bilateral and multilateral negotiations may resolve some of these disputes, but regional governments may choose to rely on judicial or quasi-judicial mechanisms as well. For example, ASEAN governments have in the past turned to the International Court of Justice for a resolution of some territorial disputes.

Chen Lijuan:Although there are many inter-governmental organizations in East Asia, they are scattered and in low degree of integration. Can Asian countries create a regional order like the European Union? Why or Why not?

Miles Kahler: East Asia can develop more effective regional institutions without following the model of the European Union and its highly elaborated institutions. For those institutions to achieve success at deeper economic integration and a reduction in militarized disputes, a different institutional design will be required.