The East Asian Community Before the East Asian Summit, which aimed to promote economic and political cooperation in the region, was held in Malaysia in December 2005, many people had questioned whether the East Asian Community was really emerging. However, although the EAS ended with the issuance of the Kuala Lumper Declaration, it is not wrong to conclude that a goal to bring Asia together is still too far to reach. The Summit left many points that support the conclusion. First of all, the criteria to join the EAS are indefinite. When member countries are not geographically East Asian, there will be a problem in creating a sense of East Asian regionalism. Inevitably, the EAS must open to the big powers like the U.S. and India although their joining not only drags a conflict from outside but also intensifies the tension between China and Japan. The U.S. will try to balance Russia while India will try to exclude Pakistan from the EAS. And two countries may help Japan containing China instead of being mediator. Their presence may lead to political tensions and obscure the EAS progress. Second of all, it is difficult to reconcile the future relationship between the EAS-APEC, and the EAS-ASEAN Plus Three framework. Some Chinese scholars and officials want the EAS to be the Asian coordinating group of APEC, but this needs India to join APEC. In addition, the Kuala Lumper Declaration stated that the EAS would not replace or be an alternative to the A+3. Does this mean that the A+3 countries do not want to develop to the EAS? Moreover, the attending countries seem to have different minds on who is in the driver’s seat of Asia. Malaysia, initially promoted the EAS, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanma support the A+3. Singapore and Indonesia, for fear of being marginalized, support ASEAN. India, trying to integrate into East Asia, supports the EAS. Thus, like Eric mentioned, it is a geo-strategic power play. Lastly, instead of promoting more cooperation, the summit would bring about the growing of Sino-Japanese rivalry since two countries may consider this summit as the time to decide their roles within the region. The existing conflict is very harmful to the development of the EAC, and may divide the region if the conflict is so severe that countries must take sides. The Summit’s result makes me believe that the EAC is still too loose. East Asians may want the integration, but they do not go in the same direction. Its future goes darker when the big powers get involved, and the Sino-Japan rivalry is not solved. Nevertheless, it is not totally hopeless to create the EAC, but some conditions must be met. I might suggest that the EAC have only East Asian countries; however, it is not realistic to think that we can exclude any problem country. Thus, the conditions I suggest are: Firstly, and the most vital, the Sino-Japanese relationship should be reconciled. The reason why their relationship gets worse is that Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro visited Yakusuni Shrine officially. The Chinese regarded this action as a symbol that the Japanese was not guilty of what they did to the Chinese during their occupation. So, if one can persuade him to visit the Shrine personally, this would decrease Chinese enmity, and lead them back to their regular meetings, which may increase an opportunity to normalize the Sino-Japanese relationship. Secondly, the EAS should establish an institution, which is led by issues, not great powers. The summit showed that fear of not having important role made countries support the arena they can lead. The institution that can guarantee that every country has the opportunity to be leader in different issues is needed. If we cannot establish such an institution, we will face great power leadership and rivalry. Thirdly, all member countries should meet every year to share their visions and integrate their objectives. Each country has its own vision, so meeting more is the best way to integrate their different views, and create a new Asian identity. Finally, they should have more cooperation, especially in economic field. The economic gains would reduce their conflict since they have common interests. In addition, the interdependence will make them cooperate more in other fields and create the sense of community. To sum up, the EAC could not be launched easily because politics between great powers, the U.S., Russia, India, Japan, and China, influence the East Asian integration, and the member countries have different visions about the leadership in Asia. To come into being, the EAC needs many conditions. The reconciliation of Sino-Japanese relationship is the important condition. Moreover, the willing to establish the issue-led institution, to meet regularly, and to cooperate more is indispensable.