With Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the guest of honor on the Republic Day last month in New Delhi, India has clearly and carefully chosen Japan to form an active strategic partner. It might sound a bit passe these days to refer to such diplomatic jargon as something extraordinary. However, for India, the rising global power, this is a respectable gesture given to the world's third economic power that also shares so many liberal values of democracy, freedom and rule of law.
One frequently asked question is: Can India and Japan form their own pivots that would provide security and stability for the Indo-Pacific region? To answer this question, one has to return to the big airplane metaphor advanced by former prime minister of Singapore, Goh Chok Tong, back in 2003 when the region was relatively peaceful with major Asian economies — China, Japan, South Korea — working together to build up East Asian community and its economic dynamic. There was no serious threat environment.
Goh likened ASEAN as the airplane's fuselage being lift by two powerful wings—China and India. As such, ASEAN's economic well being would hinge on these two countries comprising two huge markets and workforces. ASEAN was also confident that as the in-between region linking East Asia and South Asia, it would be able to synergize both regions. Now with Japan joining India on the same wing. Can ASEAN keep the balance?
At the time, nobody would have thought that the tension in East Asia could reach such an intractable stage as we are witnessing today, considering the region's increased volatility as key contesting powers become more assertive every day. At this juncture, relations among the three Asian dialogue partners are not as accommodating as before. For instance, China and South Korea are not on talking terms with Japan because of their historical legacies and overlapping territorial claims. The future of the East Asian Century is now in jeopardy.
Fears are widespread that the bold vision for East Asia could break into smithereens as the three Asian economic giants fail to work in tandem any more. If the enmity does not change in the foreseeable future, it will impact the region's economic well-being.
One frequently asked question is: Can India and Japan form their own pivots that would provide security and stability for the Indo-Pacific region? To answer this question, one has to return to the big airplane metaphor advanced by former prime minister of Singapore, Goh Chok Tong, back in 2003 when the region was relatively peaceful with major Asian economies — China, Japan, South Korea — working together to build up East Asian community and its economic dynamic. There was no serious threat environment.
Goh likened ASEAN as the airplane's fuselage being lift by two powerful wings—China and India. As such, ASEAN's economic well being would hinge on these two countries comprising two huge markets and workforces. ASEAN was also confident that as the in-between region linking East Asia and South Asia, it would be able to synergize both regions. Now with Japan joining India on the same wing. Can ASEAN keep the balance?
At the time, nobody would have thought that the tension in East Asia could reach such an intractable stage as we are witnessing today, considering the region's increased volatility as key contesting powers become more assertive every day. At this juncture, relations among the three Asian dialogue partners are not as accommodating as before. For instance, China and South Korea are not on talking terms with Japan because of their historical legacies and overlapping territorial claims. The future of the East Asian Century is now in jeopardy.
Fears are widespread that the bold vision for East Asia could break into smithereens as the three Asian economic giants fail to work in tandem any more. If the enmity does not change in the foreseeable future, it will impact the region's economic well-being.
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