Asia Pacific Regionalism: The Strategies of Japan and China in the Region

Abstract

Considering Asia Pacific dynamism, this contribution has as a goal to discuss the efforts of integration and, the models of regionalism which have been settled in the region. We keep in mind the increasing presence of China, as well as the diminished Japanese leadership. We assume that, Japan and China are implementing different strategies of regionalism to support their own interests, and both are interested into keep their links with the West, within a framework of inclusive regionalism. We start discussing Andrew Hurrell, who identifies the region as a "container of the diversity", Peter Katzenstein who argues that the Asian regionalism is linked to the "American empire" and, we introduce the arguments offered by Deepak Nair and Jessie Poon on the improvement of Asia Pacific regionalism. In the second part, we analyze the strategies followed by Japan and China in the region, highlighting their interest on Mekong zone. And finally we introduce some final considerations.