What are the prospects for the development of an Asian regional community? How might identity influence the formation of that community? Will this emerging community include or exclude the United States? In May 2010, a group of preeminent scholars from the United States, Japan, China, South Korea and India gathered in Beijing at a conference organized by the Sigur Center for Asian Studies and China Foreign Affairs University to discuss the influence of identity on the foreign policy of Japan, China, South Korea and India, as well as the impact of identity on regional cooperation.

Asia is one of the most diverse regions on Earth. It contains countries with a broad spectrum of ethnicities, languages, religions, economic and political systems. Yet there continues to be discussion on the notion of Asian community or regionalism at the popular, academic and policy levels in Asia. Two important components of identity are values and world views. This ASIA REPORT will explore some commonalities and differences between the values and world views of Japan, China, South Korea and India, and the implications of those values and world views on potential regional cooperation. It will also examine the potential impact of these values and world views on the United States’ involvement in the region.

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