II. East Asian Way
Current East Asian regionalism has shown its new characteristic
feature that is more economic-centered, equally-participated and
consensus-built.4 Different from the EU model, it develops in an
"East Asian way" that has witnessed the following characteristics:
(1) The institution will not develop into a regional organization with
super-regional power. The regional cooperation is characterized
more by a kind of "functional institution-building."3 Gradualism
and pragmatism are two important principles in the process of
regional cooperation and integration. E A C building is based on
shared interests, rather than a defined goal^
(2) ASEAN, based on its pioneer experience for regional cooperation,
plays a key role in bringing East Asia together as a region
and shaping its direction. A S E A N provides a unique way
(the ASEAN way) to bring all countries in Southeast Asian
together gradually and to turn the region into a united and integrated
one. The valuable spirit of>ASEAN is to realize regional
reconciliation through a gradual process based on functional
cooperation. The A S E AN process is not just economic cooperation