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COUNTRIES INVOLVED The 16 countries involved in the first EAS in December 2005 were:
participated in 2005 as an observer and has expressed desire and even requested to become a member. This is an issue for further discussion in the 2006 summit. In the map the ASEAN countries are depicted in red, the additional ASEAN Plus Three countries in green, the three additional members of EAS in blue, and Russia as a proposed member of EAS in yellow. HISTORY PRIOR TO THE FIRST EAST ASIA SUMMIT The concept of an East Asia Grouping has significant history going back to an idea first promoted in 1991 by then Malsyian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad for an East Asia Economic Caucus. {Link without Title} The final report in 2002 of the East Asian Study Group, established by the ASEAN+3 countries, was based on an EAS involving lead development, with the Summit to be linked to ASEAN summit meetings however the issue was to what extent beyond ASEAN was the EAS to extend to. The decision to hold the EAS was reached during the 2004 ASEAN Plus Three summit and the initial 16 members determined at the ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting held in Laos at the end of July 2005. [http://www.heritage.org/Press/Commentary/ed081805a.cfm Credit for advancing the forum during the 2004 {Link without Title} . ISSUES RELATED TO 2005 EAS (THE FIRST SUMMIT) The presence of non-East Asian countries While India is included in Asia it is normally identified as part of South Asia not East Asia. Australia and New Zealand are usually included in Oceania rather than Asia, although some differ and the distinction can be unclear. The involvement of countries not seen as traditionally part of East Asia , especially Australia and New Zealand but to a lesser extent India as well, was seen as controversial by some. Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad, credited with raising the idea of an East Asian caucus, was especially critical of the involvement of Australia and New Zealand. {Link without Title} Australia's presence was only confirmed after Australia reversed its previous policy and agreed to execute ASEAN's Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. [http://au.news.yahoo.com/050724/3/p/v7s6.html The presence of India was met by "quiet resistance" from China. {Link without Title} This stance may have reflected, in part, the perception that the presence of India would act to lessen Chinese influence in the EAS, as discussed further below. Although not strictly East Asian all three countries did have a notable history with ASEAN. In 1974 Australia became ASEAN's first dialogue partner[http://www.aseansec.org/12974.htm]. New Zealand became a dialgue partner in the following year, 1975 [http://www.aseansec.org/5826.htm]. Sunmmits with ASEAN for both countries were first held in 1977. Australia and New Zealand as the two since 2004 {Link without Title} . The linkages between ASEAN and India are more recent [http://www.aseansec.org/5738.htm]. India did not become a full ASEAN dialogue partner until 1995. Nevertheless India's "look East" policy has placed particular emphasis on building relationships in the Asian region [http://www.globalpolicy.org/globaliz/econ/2003/1011indiaasean.htm]. Koizumi's Visits to the Yasukuni Shrine Japan-China and Japan-South Korea ties were strained ahead of the first Summit because of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi controversial visits to the Yasukuni shrine, which honors 14 Class-A war criminals alongside Japan's other fallen soldiers. These visits are perceived by China and South Korea as symptomatic of a Japan that has not come to terms with its role in World War II, a conclusion disputed by Japan. [http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/GL13Ae02.html The most recent (at the time) visit by Prime Minister Koizumi was on 17 October 2005, so the issue was still fresh by the EAS in December. As a result the traditional Japan-China-South Korea meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN Plus Three meeting (which preceded the EAS) was cancelled by China and South Korea. {Link without Title} The rise of China and the need to check Chinese influence The presence of the non-East Asian India, and to a lesser extent Australia and New Zealand, was seen by some as an attempt by some members of ASEAN (such as Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines) to include countries who by their size or economies may act as a check to the rising influence of China, especially as the weakness in Sino-Japanese relations undermined the ability of Japan to perform that role. [http://www.worldpress.org/Asia/2192.cfm China has attributed the presence of Australia and India to Japanese influence. {Link without Title} The absence of the United States of America The absence of the United States Of America was seen by some commentators as symptomatic of what was said to be the USA's declining influence in Asia. {Link without Title} Some view this as linked with what is perceived as Chinese influence rising. {Link without Title} OUTCOME OF THE 2005 EAS The difficulties in the relationship between the "Plus Three" members (ie Japan, China and South Korea) of ASEAN Plus three together with the positioning of parties due to the presence of the non-East Asian countries, India, Australia and New Zealand, resulted in limitations in what could be achieved at the inaugural EAS. The role of the inaugural EAS then became confidence building and familiarisation exercise. The Kuala Lumpur declaration and the Avian Influenza Prevention, Control And Response declaration were signed by the 16 leaders during the 2005 summit. It was agreed to hold future EASs in conjunction with the annual ASEAN meetings. The outcomes that were achieved are summarised in the Chairman’s Statement of the First East Asia Summit . ISSUES RELATED TO 2006 EAS (THE SECOND SUMMIT) The next EAS will be held on December 13 2006 in Metro Cebu , Philippines. After the confidence building of the inaugural EAS the 2006 EAS will help to define the future role of the EAS, its relationship with ASEAN Plus Three and the involvement of Russia in EAS. The role of other nations Russia seeks to become a member of EAS. The United States has now stated that it hopes to have some role in the future of the EAS. {Link without Title} The European Union has indicated it wishes to have a role as an observer. {Link without Title} East Asian Economic Partnership Agreement Japan has announced a proposal for an East Asian Economic Partnership Agreement consisting of the current members of the EAS. [http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyid=2006-04-04T045425Z_01_T92143_RTRUKOC_0_US-TRADE-JAPAN-ASIA.xml [http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/afx/2006/04/03/afx2644185.html Japan, the promoter of the concept, has described it as an "East Asia OECD ". [http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/business/news/20060404p2g00m0bu044000c.html] This is linked with a timetable for discussions to commence in 2008 and to conclude in 2010, which has been currently met with some scepticism. {Link without Title} THE RELATIONSHIP WITH ASEAN PLUS THREE The relationship between the EAS on the one hand and . This may be significant for those advocating a broader role for EAS in the future. The 1997 Asian Financial Crisis had demonstrated the need for regional groupings and initiatives. It was during this time ASEAN Plus Three had commenced and it was also during this time that the East Asian caucus was being discussed. Prior to the creation of the EAS it appeared that ASEAN Plus Three would take the role that may now fall to the EAS of community building in East Asia. [http://english.people.com.cn/200410/14/eng20041014_160226.html The EAS is just one regional grouping and some members down play its significance, the Australian Prime Minister John Howard has stated that the EAS was secondary as as regional summit to Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) which has on his view a premier role Not all members of EAS are members of APEC. However as the EAS meetings are scheduled with the ASEAN Plus Three meetings (they both follow the annual ASEAN meetings) and all members of ASEAN Plus Three are members of EAS the relationship between the two is particularly interesting to see if each can create roles to justify their continuing existence. China has stated its preference for both EAS and ASEAN Plus Three to exist side-by-side. [http://english.people.com.cn/200512/14/eng20051214_228024.html FUTURE The EAS is seen as a precursor of a pan-Asia summit and promises to be “open, inclusive, transparent, and forward-looking.” Together, the members represent half of the world’s population and a fifth of global trade in 2005. This is sometimes linked into a unit. {Link without Title} However some commentators see this an overly optimistic vision. {Link without Title} Neverthless some even link this with a broader Asian Economic Community. {Link without Title} It seems it is too early to reach any conclusions of where the EAS will lead. {Link without Title} SEE ALSO
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