In security cooperation, for instance, China has agreed to the establishment of a code of conduct in the South China Sea. The country also has acceded to sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. Policy makers in Beijing have attached importance to the regional norms of peaceful conflict resolution upheld by Asean.

In economic cooperation, significant changes have been taking place. This can be seen from the agreement on establishing the China-Asean Free Trade Association (CAFTA). China and Asean have planned to fully realise CAFTA in 2011. Related to this, China is trying to promote the idea of an East Asia Free Trade Area (EAFTA). This has been categorised as a medium- to long-term recommendation, meaning there is no hurry to realise it.

Serious efforts also have been made by China to strengthen financial cooperation. China has attempted to sign bilateral swap arrangements (BSA) with all members of Asean. With a view to providing financial assistance for countries facing a short-term liquidity crisis, the total China has pledged to support the BSA is estimated to be US$20.5 billion. By actively supporting the idea of an Asian Bond Initiative, China also has shown great interest in evolving regional capacity to meet the need for financial resources in the long term. It seems China is fully aware of Asean's urgent need to strengthen regional financial facilities.

That is why Asean has deliberately taken the initiative to engage China in strengthening regional financial arrangements in East Asia. In the long term, China's objective appears to be to encourage Asean to be part of East Asia or alternatively to drive East Asia as an integral part of Asean. While the first option would be like the process of "East Asian-isation" of Asean, the second would be akin to the process of "Asean-isation of East Asia".

Actually China is fully aware it cannot develop without East Asia, neither can East Asia prosper without China. Accordingly there are three main questions Asean needs to answer. The first is related to institutionalising the process. It makes more sense for Asean to choose the Asean-isation of East Asia rather than the East Asian-isation of Asean. The reasons are obvious. The former option provides Asean with greater opportunity to promote the Asean way to China. However, this option makes it necessary for Asean to strengthen its institutional capacity in dealing with the issue of East Asia Community (EAC) building activities. Otherwise the centrality of Asean in the process will never become reality.

The second problem is related to pace. The question here is how fast does the process need to be carried out? Establishing a time frame might not be the right answer to this question. The main reason lies in the fact that Asean itself has an ambition to realise the idea of an Asean Community. Asean, therefore, needs to be much more careful about considering the offers made by China, South Korea and Japan on the EAC's establishment. They may give short-term benefits but could dilute the realisation of an Asean community.

The third problem is related to the dynamic of a strategic environment at international level. Asean needs to be aware its increased and closer interaction with China could cause other countries to be envious. It may even send a signal that China is trying to gain the status as a hegemonic power in the region. The question then is how can Asean and China erase such an impression? In so far as the issue is concerned, Asean has tried to manage it by attempting to develop the idea that the identity of East Asia should not be understood geographically.

This can clearly be seen in the decision to hold the East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur last year, which Australia, India and New Zealand were invited to join. But this may be insufficient to erase the suspicion. In this regard it might be useful for Asean to think about holding an Asean-US Summit regularly.

Makmur Keliat

The Jakarta Post

Jakarta

The writer is executive director of the Centre for East Asia Cooperation Studies (CEACS) at the University of Indonesia.

The Jakarta Post is a member of the Asia News Network.