East Asia Community under ERIA: The Role of Japan towards Think Tanks and the Development of East Asia Community

Abstract

This article aims to explain the role of Japan that has been involving in the
strengthening and regional integration of East Asia Community (EAC) by providing
assistances through the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)
that has been playing a vital role in conducting research to support and strengthening
EAC.
This article contends that the Japanese government has supported the establishment
of ERIA and provided financial assistance Japanese government can manipulate
ERIA as a tool to influence the development trajectory of East Asia to align with
economic interests of Japan, particularly the interests of Japanese private companies
that have been running in Southeast Asia for a long time.