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The Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s contributed to the intensification of regional economic integration in East Asia. However, the initial optimism resulting from the greater interest in integration among participants weakened over time. One of the most important countries with real and growing influence on partners in East Asia is China. Its rising economic position makes China’s perception of regional integration and its activity in that field crucial for the development of the process. These issues are covered in this study. The main purpose of the paper is to present and evaluate China’s role in the development of regional economic integration in East Asia in the period from the Asian financial crisis to the present. Two most important components of the regional economic integration will be analysed, namely regionalisation and regionalism. The main conclusion is that as a result of China's growing position as one of the leading economic centres of East Asia, its role in the development of East Asian economic integration has significantly increased. It can be observed in engagement in institutional frameworks, but above all, in the development of real economic ties in the region. Potentially, China can act as the most influential promoter of regional economic integration in East Asia. However, it depends on the significance of regional aspirations in a broader global strategy of China. It seems that currently global ambitions far outweigh the regional ones. Various research methods are used to achieve the goal of the study: method of critical analysis of literature, method of inference and method of statistical data analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of giant transnational contractors, based primarily in Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and China, who operate factories throughout the world, is a yet-unstudied trend that has important implications for global development. These factories are primarily found in East Asia (China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia), Mexico, and Central America, although in certain sectors (such as apparel) they are beginning to appear in Africa as well. The emergence of giant transnational contractors portends a dramatic shift of organizational power within global supply chains, as large factories provide a potential counterweight to the growing power of retailers. This paper offers some preliminary observations on two aspects of global supply chains: how the trend towards concentration of production in large transnational East Asian contractors impacts the relative power of contractors vis-à-vis retailers, and the extent to which large contractors generate linkages with other firms and sectors locally that contribute to industrial upgrading and thereby broader-based economic development, as well as working conditions. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

East Asia is a region because of its economic activity. Current transformation towards a digital economy, East Asia must also transform their synergy to maintain its economic growth. China, which has become a leading economy in the international environment, must address its capability to lead East Asia into a more united region. Therefore, this article will discuss two main topics. First is the current condition of regional economic integration in East Asia regarding digital economy transformation. Second, how China could manifest and lead the region's digital economy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the topical problem of energy security in East Asia under the context of the unfolding struggle of the major powers in this region for priority access to energy sources from Russia, the Middle East and fields in the East China and South China seas. The problems of bilateral and multilateral energy cooperation, ways of its institutionalization in the context of the prospects of the formation of a common regionwide energy space are depicted in this article. The authors note that the territorial disputes between China and Japan over the Senkaku Islands, as well as the disputes over the ownership of the Paracel Islands, which have repeatedly led the countries of East Asia to the brink of a military confrontation, have a strong natural resources background, because either there are large deposits of hydrocarbons, or there are strategically important ways of transporting oil and gas from the Middle East. The confrontation between China and Japan, the world largest economies and powerful military powers at the same time the countries with lack of oil and gas reserves and that have been experiencing a severe shortage of this strategically important for the functioning of their industry natural resources for the last two decades represents grave danger. The current military and political situation between China and Japan, characterized by the intensification of their struggle for regional leadership and often accompanied by the manifestation of force, calls for intensified efforts of the two governments to establish political cooperation and to reach compromise solutions. According to the authors, the common interests of energy security and stable development of energy cooperation in East Asia suggest the creation of responsible structural department within the existing regional integration associations that would directly deal with energy issues and would allow their depoliticization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]