Asia group without Japan

Asia group without Japan

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday Asian nations can establish the East Asian Economic Caucus (EAEC) without Japan's involvement, long seen as necessary for the group.

National news agency Bernama quoted Mahathir as saying that Japan can join the caucus at any time because "the door is always open".

"The decision is up to the ASEAN members and other nations. We just follow. If possible, without Japan is also okay," Mahathir said in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur after returning from a five-day visit to Japan's Kyushu island.

Mahathir had proposed the caucus in 1990 as a regional trade grouping to rival the existing Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum that links countries around the Pacific Rim and includes the United States.

But aside from interest among some of its fellow ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members, Malaysia has made little progress. Other ASEAN members are Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Despite his tough statement on Japan's involvement in the caucus, Mahathir said time had not run out for Japan.

"A year from now is still all right," he said.

During his trip to Kyushu, Mahathir said asking Japan to join the caucus was only a "small request".

He told an Asia-Kyushu regional meeting that Japan's participation in the EAEC will enable it to ensure the group does not make any anti-United States decisions or policies.