The two decades following the end of the Cold War witnessed continuous peace, stability, social progress, and economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region as a whole, despite occasional disturbances across the Taiwan Strait and on the Korean Peninsula. Numerous institutions and mechanisms aimed at promoting regional economic integration and constructing “new security architecture” in East Asia were created, and thousands of conferences, workshops, and research programs were conducted along the same lines, often with noticeable optimism. Questions were asked as to why a regional formulation similar to the European Union could not be developed soon in East Asia, as if this had been a desirable and reachable destination for the peoples in this vast area.

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