Hello, welcome to visit Shanghai Forum
A regional institution with broad scope, covering bothpolitical and economic issues, and one that brings together top leaders in anorganized summit setting is one path for encouraging positive linkage betweenthe two domains.
Reporter: ChenLijuan
Reporter: You mentioned that economic interdependence is guaranteeof Asian regional order. As we all know, while the integration in economic areahas moved deeply, the cooperation in political area between governments laggedbehind, in your opinion, why does this phenomenon exist? How to solve thisproblem?
Miles Kahler: East Asian governments have largely separated economicand political-military issues as the region has become more integrated. Thisapproach is valuable in maintaining economic ties during periods of politicalconflict, but the positive spillovers from economic integration are alsoreduced. A regional institution with broad scope, covering both political andeconomic issues, and one that brings together top leaders in an organizedsummit setting is one path for encouraging positive linkage between the two domains.The East Asia Summit could become such a forum.
Reporter: There is a popular view that China-centered hierarchy is oneavenue 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 Asiais 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 insuch a system. Chinese leadership in regional issues would probably be welcome,however.
Reporter: The United State takes an important role in the Asiaarea, especially its relations with China, so what do you think of thehierarchical orders between the United States and China in the Asia area?
Miles Kahler: Neither the United States nor China can sustain ahierarchical order in the region; rivalry between the two would also bedamaging to regional order. Participation in the design of a new regional order on the part of bothChina and the United States is the optimal course of action for East Asia. BothChina and the United States share broad goals of peace and economic integrationfor the region.
Reporter: There exists many disputes like longstanding maritimedisputes and historical problems among Asian countries, the recent standoffbetween China and the Philippines at the Scarborough Shoal is a dramaticexample. Can these problems be solved? Do you have any proposal to enhance theconsensus and trust among Asia countries?
Miles Kahler: Unlike Latin America and Europe, East Asia has not foundan accepted regional formula for resolving territorial and maritime disputes.Bilateral and multilateral negotiations may resolve some of these disputes, butregional governments may choose to rely on judicial or quasi-judicialmechanisms as well. For example, ASEANgovernments have in the past turned to the International Court of Justice for aresolution of some territorial disputes.
Reporter: Although there are many inter-governmental organizationsin East Asia, but they are scattered and in low degree of integration. CanAsian create a regional order like the European Union? Why or Why not?
Miles Kahler: East Asia can develop more effective regionalinstitutions without following the model of the European Union and its highlyelaborated institutions. For thoseinstitutions to achieve success at deeper economic integration and a reductionin militarized disputes, a different institutional design will be required.
Introduction:
Miles Kahler isRohr Professor of Pacific International Relations at IR/PS and DistinguishedProfessor of Political Science at UC San Diego.
