Asian Economic Integration: Different Strategic Viewpoints on the FTA

　　Abstract: During the past 10 years, economic integration in Asia has developed significantly, and the primary economies within the region have begun participating fully in the process of integration. Because of historical conflicts, economies of scale and uneven levels of economic development though, there remains a major gap between the integration strategies of the different economic actors in the region. The future of Asian economic integration has been made even more uncertain as a result of conflicts of interest between powers both within and outside of the region. This has gradually resulted in Asian economic integration drifting away from the goal of a unified market / a wide range FTA. Only if the economic power structure within the region changes will the region prove able to resume work from within towards the goal of economic integration.

　　Author: Shen Minghui is an Associate Research Professor in the Institute for AsiaPacific Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences