Is a European Union-style community of nations possible in
East Asia and if it is should Australia and New Zealand seek to
join it? The questions are posed by journalist and commentator Graham Cooke in an interview with the President of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Brian Lynch.Lynch believes that the concept of an
East Asian Community, a pipe dream only a decade ago, is now moving on to firmer ground and if it comes to reality he has no doubt New Zealand should seek to join.While agreeing that many of the likely members have been rivals and sometimes opponents in war during the 20th century, he points to more recent examples of cooperation on issues such as disaster relief and the alleviation of poverty. The European Union emerged from the wreckage of World War II, born out of a determination that its member countries should never again be drawn into a major war with each other. The African Union’s major purpose was to give a sense of stability and direction to a poverty-stricken, disease-ridden continent.Lynch
says the 21st century impetus for an East Asian Union could be the move towards a globalised economy, where national boundaries are increasingly seen as an unnecessary hindrance to multinational business and trade.Cooke says the question for Australia and New Zealand is whether they should remain on the sidelines of this movement, or seek full involvement with the possibility of being able to influence its direction. He says that neither country has found it easy to advance its national interests as single entities, and Australia’s close alliance with the United States has brought it few favours.He suggests the two countries at least position themselves to take a proactive role, as the momentum for change may prevent them from playing the part of interested observers of Asian affairs as has often been the case in the past.