ABSTRACT
It was out of the question for the East Asian Five to emerge as strong economic forces without having a pervasive impact on the rest of the world. This was only enhanced by the fact that, as trading nations, they had contacts with a broad range of countries. However, while the relations were just marginal or secondary in more remote areas, they were increasingly deep and intense in those which were nearer. The repercussions in Asia soon proved to be particularly significant.
