ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the role of ASEAN in the formation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement. The analysis focuses on two main aspects. First, the chapter analyses the role of ASEAN centrality as a driving force in the RCEP project. There is both ASEAN centrality as a concept that has been investigated in academic scholarship, and there is ASEAN centrality as practice, where ASEAN in its 10-member form has been a key actor that is linked to the major powers involved in RCEP and therefore has successfully taken on a mediating role amongst them. ASEAN as a group has FTAs with each of the five non-ASEAN RCEP negotiating partners – China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. Individual ASEAN members also have FTAs in effect with some RCEP members. Given this unique position as a ‘hub’ in this configuration, ASEAN has been a mediating presence amongst the most contentious parties during the negotiations. The second part of the chapter is devoted to the relationship between RCEP and the AEC. The discussion focuses on how RCEP supports and complements ASEAN’s regional community-building efforts.
