Regionalism in Asia

In Asia, regionalism—a development attracting growing international interest—is characterized by plurality and contest. The building of regional institutions in Asia is not only a response to the need for practical co-operation in commercial, security and other matters, but is also shaped by specific national interests and national rivalries, and by historical and cultural forces. The sharp tension between the People’s Republic of China and Japan is perhaps the most dangerous dynamic, and it looked increasingly dangerous during 2013–14. Asia, following its economic triumphs over recent decades, is in a phase of far-reaching transition: its complex and untidy regional architecture reflects a deeper strategic turmoil, and one encompassing issues of identity.