Asia began a new-era with the launch of the East Asia Summit (EAS) in December 2005 in Kuala Lumpur. Great movements often begin as a small event, which in retrospect, is understood to be a turning point in history. For instance, who would have thought the launch of ASEAN in 1967 would yield such rich dividends forty years later, with the launch of the EAS, which its members agreed would be driven by ASEAN?

Trends in the Asia-Pacific Region

There are three major regional trends which would justify some attention. Firstly, with the newly established EAS, all members, including India, now have to take in the wider Asian arena, beyond their traditional sub- regional focus. All members’ political radars will now have to scan and pay attention to such hot spots as the Korean peninsula, Taiwan-China relations, Japan-China relations. These issues are no longer far-off nor less relevant, but now deeply concern regional well-being as they determine the progress of the EAS. Many Asian policy-makers and thinkers have now to grapple with new concepts and new responsibilities such as how China, India and Japan should provide the regional public goods and how should these three powers meet the new high expectations of ODA (Official Development Assistance) and FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) from the less developed EAS members.

This focus on the Asia-Pacific region is not new, because the far- sighted then Prime Minister J. Nehru, whilst he was imprisoned in Ahmadnegar Prison during World War II, wrote:

There is obviously much to think about and much to discuss regarding the new and wider regional role and responsibilities of the three great Asian powers.

Secondly, beyond the EAS, we see rising confidence in Asia, buoyed by fast economic growth and sustained political stability. These economic and political strengths give Asia a greater sense of empowerment, in playing a more meaningful role in world affairs.