East Asian regional economic integration, be it “market-driven??? or “functional???, has enveloped both Southeast and Northeast Asia. It is however important to underscore that unlike Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia remains loose and unorganized. By default and not by design, Asean has emerged as the “hub???, despite being relatively small and weak, with the more advanced Japan and Korea and much bigger China serving as “spokes???.

Publication: MIERScan, 19 June 2006.