ABSTRACT

This volume discusses the relationship between economics, geopolitics and regional institutional growth and development in the Asia-Pacific region.

How do states (re)define their relationships amid the current global power transition? How do rival actors influence the rules and formation of new institutions for their own benefit? What role will institutions take as independent actors in influencing and constraining the behavior of states? Institutional development in Asia is characterized by idiosyncratic and diverse motivations (both material and non-material), a variety of policy strategies (strategic and norm-based), and the looming question of China’s future depth of involvement as its economic position becomes more stable and its confidence in foreign affairs grows. The book reflects the broadening definition of Asia by examining multiple perspectives, including Japan, China, South Korea, the United States, Australia, India, Russia, and Taiwan. In addition to state actors, the contributors address several important regional institutions in development such as the ASEAN (+3, +6, and the East Asian Summit), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), existing security alliances, and other bilateral institutions. Ultimately, this volume describes the unique, slow, and diverse growth of a multitude of regional institutions, the complexities of generating cooperation, membership concerns, and competition between states and with existing institutions in the context of China’s increasing confidence and strength.

This book will be of much interest to students of Asian politics, regional security, international organizations, and foreign policy.

chapter 1|10 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|16 pages

China and IR

Geopolitical implications for Northeast Asia

chapter 3|19 pages

In pursuit of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

The politics and geopolitics of a Chinese bank

chapter 4|13 pages

China’s financial power in Asia

Strategic implications of RMB internationalization for regional relations

chapter 5|16 pages

From Pan-Asianism to Act East

India’s evolving perspectives and roles in East Asian regional institutions

chapter 9|17 pages

Realist objectives, liberal means

Japan, China, and maritime security in Southeast Asia

chapter 11|18 pages

Russia’s institutional engagement with the Asia-Pacific

Getting more Asian and less Pacific

chapter 12|19 pages

The Indian Ocean matters for East Asia

Emerging Indo-Pacific interests in East Asian affairs

chapter 13|8 pages

Conclusions

Interests and strategies in Asian regional institutional development