Second East Asia Summit
Host countryPhilippines
DateJanuary 15, 2007
CitiesMandaue, Metro Cebu
ParticipantsEAS members
FollowsFirst East Asia Summit
PrecedesThird East Asia Summit

The Second East Asia Summit was held in Mandaue, Metro Cebu, Philippines on January 15, 2007. The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a pan-Asia forum held annually by the leaders of 16 countries in the East Asian region. EAS meetings are held after annual ASEAN leaders' meetings.

Attending delegations

The Second East Asia Summit was to be held on December 13, 2006, in Mandaue, Metro Cebu, Philippines. After the confidence building of the First East Asia Summit, the 2006 East Asia Summit was to intended help to define the future role of the EAS, its relationship with ASEAN Plus Three and the involvement of Russia in EAS. However, in the face of Tropical Typhoon Utor the summit was postponed until January 2007.[1][2] It has been rescheduled for January 15, 2007, approximately a month after the original scheduled date.[3]

The 16 countries involved were:

Issues for the second EAS

The meeting of EAS foreign ministers in Kuala Lumpur on July 26, 2006, identified energy, finance, education, avian flu and national disaster mitigation as the priority issues for the 2006 EAS.[4][5] The Philippines, the host of the 2006 (now 2007) EAS, also said the failure of the Doha Round would be on the agenda.[6]

EAS Free Trade Agreement/Comprehensive Economic Partnership for East Asia (CEPEA)

In April 2006 Japan announced a proposal for an East Asian Economic Partnership Agreement (also known as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership for East Asia (CEPEA) or the Nikai Initiative in reference to Toshihiro Nikai in reference to the then Japanese Economic Minister) consisting of the current members of the EAS.[7][8][9][10] Japan, the promoter of the concept, described it as an "East Asia OECD".[11] Initially this was linked with a timetable for discussions to commence in 2008 and to conclude in 2010, which met with some scepticism.[12][13]

By August 2006 this had been refined to a Japanese proposal[9] championed by Japanese Trade Minister Toshihiro Nikai consisting of:

  • a fund of US$80 million to $100 million to initiate a comprehensive economic partnership (CEP) with East Asia, modelled on the OECD;[14][15] and
  • an institution to be named the East Asia Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) in an ASEAN country to research the benefits of a proposed Free Trade Agreement between the 16-members of the EAS; and
  • an East Asian Free Trade Agreement (EAFTA) between the EAS members.

Responses were mixed. Following the discussions of EAS Foreign Minister in Kuala Lumpur on July 26, 2006, to establish the agenda for the second EAS, it appeared that the proposal as it then stood did not have sufficient support to be included as an agenda item for the second EAS.[4] Although the Philippines, which was the host for the second EAS, said trade would be on the agenda but in terms of the then present difficulties with the Doha Round.[6]

Nevertheless, even after the meeting of the EAS Foreign Ministers Japan appeared keen to continue to discuss the idea in terms of a Free Trade Agreement between the members of the EAS.[16][17]

India came out publicly in support of a pan-Asia Free Trade Agreement.[18] New Zealand expressed its support.[19][20] As has Malaysia.[21] Australia described the proposal as "interesting".[22] Indonesia gave guarded support to the proposal,[23] linking it with the proposed East Asian Community and Asian Values.[24] ASEAN gave its support to the Japanese proposal to research the proposed EAFTA.[13][25][26]

Ong Keng Yong, the secretary-general of ASEAN has suggested that "it can be done", referring to an EAFTA, and estimated it would take 10 years.[27] ASEAN as a whole seemed to have a pessimistic view as to the feasibility of the idea at 2006.[28]

Japan nevertheless said it was delighted with the positive response to the proposal.[29]

Nevertheless, China, South Korea and ASEAN were also said to have indirectly expressed scepticism about the idea.[30] The difficulties with the ASEAN - India FTA does not augur well for a larger FTA.[30][31] Japan also had to defend itself from the allegation that the proposal was advanced as a mechanism to counter China[32]

The position of China was expected by some commentators[33] although not all agreed.[21] China appears to prefer the narrower grouping of ASEAN plus Three for a future Free Trade Agreement.[34] New Zealand has expressed confidence that China will support the proposal, especially if the research shows a benefit to East Asia from an EAFTA[35][36]

The United States of America has proposed an FTA within the members of APEC which may be in response to the suggestion of an FTA between the members of the EAS.[37] Japan has suggested that the EAFTA could be used as a building block for the larger APEC FTA.[38] The US is aggressively coming out against such a move concerned about a line down the middle of the Pacific while Asian economies are concerned about the US's ability to deliver a broad based FTA.[39]

In September 2006 Toshihiro Nikai was replaced as Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (Japan) by Akira Amari. Nikai's successor has pursued the Nikai initiative - Comprehensive Economic Partnership for East Asia (CEPEA).

Growth in India and China ties and the Japanese thaw

In November 2006 India and China announced plans to double bilateral trade by 2010.[40] The growing relationship between the world's two most populous nations was seen as a potential source of stability and co-operation for the region.[41] The two countries joint declaration of November 21, 2006, agreed at paragraph 43 to "cooperate closely" in the context of the EAS.[42]

Further the change in leadership in Japan with Shinzo Abe's election to the Prime Ministership of Japan in September 2006 brought about some thawing in Japan's relationship with both China and South Korea.[43]

These changes suggested the potential for different dynamics in the second EAS to the tensions in the First EAS.

Fuel stockpiles

It is proposed that an agreement to standardise rules for bio-fuels and agreements on stockpiling fuels will form part of the 2006 EAS.[44][45]

Outcome of the second EAS

The outcomes are summarised in the Statement of the Second East Asia Summit.

Energy

The EAS members signed the Cebu Declaration on East Asian Energy Security, a declaration on energy security and biofuels containing statement for members to prepare, non-binding, targets.[46]

Trade and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership for East Asia (CEPEA)

As to trade and regional integration the following was noted in the Chair's report:

12. We welcomed ASEAN's efforts towards further integration and community building, and reaffirmed our resolve to work closely together in narrowing development gaps in our region. We reiterated our support for ASEAN's role as the driving force for economic integration in this region. To deepen integration, we agreed to launch a Track Two study on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia (CEPEA) among EAS participants. We tasked the ASEAN Secretariat to prepare a time frame for the study and to invite all our countries to nominate their respective participants in it.

We welcomed Japan's proposal for an Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).

According to some press reports the debate as to whether there will be a trade grouping based on ASEAN Plus 3 or the EAS.[47]

The United States has subsequently stated that it opposes any trade group in the region not involving itself.[48] The preference of the United States appears to be a trading group based on APEC.

The reality appears however that movement towards such a relationship is a long way-off. Lee Kuan Yew has compared the relationship between Southeast Asia and India with that of the European Community and Turkey, and has suggested that a free-trade area involving South-East Asia and India is 30 to 50 years away.[49]

ERIA

The members of EAS agreed to study the Japanese proposed[47][50] Comprehensive Economic Partnership for East Asia (CEPEA). As noted above the second EAS welcomed the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). The ERIA as an institute that is envisaged as a network of think-tanks to drive the study required.[51]

It was subsequently announced that the ERIA would be established in November 2007.[52]

References

  1. ↑ Bangkok Post : Breaking News
  2. ↑ Static pages for archive | Sun.Star Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ "The Manila Times Internet Edition | TOP STORIES > Asean summit set Jan. 10-15". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on November 10, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  4. 1 2 "Zee News - Democracy important, but Myanmar cannot be isolated: India". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  5. ↑ US should tell Israel to stop bombings
  6. 1 2 "Inq7.net". Archived from the original on February 21, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  7. ↑ Business analyst impressed by Japanese proposal to form a massive Asian economic free trade zone including NZ by 2010
  8. ↑ "Japanese govt to propose big Asian free-trade zone - Forbes.com". Forbes. Archived from the original on June 26, 2006. Retrieved November 19, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. 1 2 "Archived copy". aem.bernama.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ↑ "The Brunei Times". Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  11. ↑ Bing
  12. ↑ New trade dawn in land of rising sun - Business - Business - theage.com.au
  13. 1 2 "Archived copy". aem.bernama.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ↑ ABS-CBNNews.com | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features
  15. ↑ Business News, Personal Finance and Money News - ABC News
  16. ↑ "Archived copy". www.tass.ru. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. ↑ "Japan looks to play leading role in regional trade".
  18. ↑ Manmohan Singh sells his vision of pan-Asian FTA - Money - DNA
  19. ↑ http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS_FLASH08032006775_9.htm
  20. ↑ Goff:The Current State of Trade Negotiations | Scoop News
  21. 1 2 Malaysian National News Agency :: BERNAMA Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  22. ↑ http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20061502-31037,00.html
  23. ↑ "Archived copy". aem.bernama.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. ↑ People's Daily Online - Indonesia calls for countries to bear Asian values
  25. ↑ Tokyo proposes Asian economic bloc – Business – International Herald Tribune – The New York Times
  26. ↑ "Archived copy". aem.bernama.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  27. ↑ AHN Archived September 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  28. ↑ "Kuna site|Story page|Japan to accelerate FTA talks with GCC, East Asia ...11/2/2006". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  29. ↑ "Archived copy". aem.bernama.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  30. 1 2 "Archived copy". aem.bernama.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. ↑ "Archived copy". aem.bernama.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  32. ↑ "Archived copy". aem.bernama.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  33. ↑ http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20040776-601,00.html
  34. ↑ Malaysian National News Agency :: BERNAMA Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  35. ↑ "Archived copy". aem.bernama.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  36. ↑ "Archived copy". aem.bernama.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  37. ↑ "US wants APEC-wide free trade pact: report". Archived from the original on April 28, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  38. ↑ "Viet Nam News". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  39. ↑ "Inq7.net". Archived from the original on February 21, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  40. ↑ http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/11/21/india.hu.reut/index.html
  41. ↑ India-China pact a boon for region Archived November 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  42. ↑ Press Information Bureau English Releases
  43. ↑ "CNN.com - New Japan PM vows strong China ties - Sep 27, 2006". Archived from the original on October 6, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  44. ↑ http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS_FLASH11272006661_7.htm
  45. ↑ "Zee News - East Asian countries to cut dependence on conventional fuels". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  46. ↑ "The official site of 12th ASEAN SUMMIT: Cebu, Philippines". www.12thaseansummit.org.ph. Archived from the original on February 18, 2007. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  47. 1 2 India, Australia, N.Z. Will Join Trade Bloc, Ong Says (Update3) - Bloomberg
  48. ↑ "US insists on inclusion in Asia-Pacific trade pact. 18/01/2007. ABC News Online". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on July 11, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  49. ↑ "Radio Australia - News - EU expansion a lesson: Lee Kuan Yew". Archived from the original on June 26, 2007. Retrieved May 19, 2007.
  50. ↑ Success for the EAS? | The Japan Times Online
  51. ↑ Symposium on "Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)", Keynote Lecture by Haruhiko Kuroda President Asian Development Bank Archived January 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, August 23, 2007
  52. ↑ The Brunei Times
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