Study Of The Leading Role Of Indonesia In The Asean Integration Process

Competitions between countries are more and more severe under the economic globalization. Therefore, regional organizations are gaining much popularity. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), for example, is a big success. ASEAN becomes the world's most vigorous regions because of its sustained rapid growth rate, which arouses great interest among people. As the main member of ASEAN, Indonesia plays an important role in the development of it. Indonesia, seen as the ASEAN leader, has its advantages. For one thing, it's a country with the biggest area and population in the region; and for another it's a country with advantageous geographic position, stable political situation, sustained rapid growth rate and high prestige. Indonesia plays major and leading parts in almost every step of ASEAN development, from promoting the foundation of ASEAN to maintaining its unity and stability, propelling its extension and co-operations with countries outside ASEAN. However, the Southeast Asian financial crisis severely weakens the power of ASEAN, which leads to the loss of Indonesia's leading position as well. After that, Indonesia regulates ASEAN's strategies, which focuses more on co-operations with neighboring countries, so as to regain its leading position. With the rapid development of regional integration, East Asia integration starts. How to play an important role in East Asia integration and meanwhile develop economy is a big challenge confronting China now. China bears much resemblance to Indonesia, so to study the leading role of Indonesia in ASEAN is to look for strategies of China's development. Only if China maintains long term stable political situation, develop its economy, sticks to the open policy and seeking common ground while reserving differences, furthermore, promotes East Asia Integration with overall and long-term sight, can it develop itself and the region in the end. This is what we learn from Indonesia's strategies in ASEAN. Meanwhile, we come to the conclusion that regional leading country and regional leading organization are complementary to each other and co-existing.