No. 80 (2021): Reflections on Asia-Pacific: Lessons Learned and Opportunities in environments of global transformation

"The Century of the East: Importance of Asia in economic and health geopolitics."

Understanding the conjuncture requires knowledge of the context; to understand the economic and social transformation the world is currently facing as a product not only of the health crisis, but also of structural economic adjustments at the macro and micro levels it must be recognized that change is part of the system, and that spontaneous challenges and ruptures are also part of that environment.

In the midst of a global crisis, it is important to take stock of the processes that have been more or less efficient according to each circumstance and to learn from those who have offered effective solutions, recognizing good practices.

In the international context, the Asian continent has become a key player in geopolitical dynamics, determining decisions and policies at the global level.

Following the establishment of China as the world's second largest economy in 2010, as well as the rapid growth of Southeast Asian economies, the international system has recognized Asia as the new economic, political and social center of gravity. The post-pandemic period will be articulated according to the structural relations present in the Asian region, putting an end to the historical configuration of international relations from the Western perspective. It is for this reason that the situation of the Asian states becomes the driving force of the research, instrumentalizing national and regional analytical optics for international analysis.

The power of the Eastern region is articulated in the leadership of its states in economic, social and health matters. Since the 1990s, if we analyze the growth rates of almost all the economies of the continent, they have remained in the categories of "sustained" or "very high". The global economic crisis of 2008-2009, which exhaustively affected Western economies, did not generate the same structural dislocations in Asia, demonstrating the ability to adapt to economic circumstances, its concern for internal and external markets and the role of this geographic space as a leader in the global economic recovery process.

These advances resulted in the construction of a perception of structural concern of the West, specifically in the face of the growth of India and China; and its role in world geopolitics. In terms of international economic influence, Asia becomes the axis of interest in terms of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), trade policy and consumption of energy and other fundamental raw materials.

In the current international context, Asia's importance has been reflected in its institutional response to both the economic and health consequences of the pandemic. In the context of Covid-19, Asia has emerged as the most effective leader in managing responses to the virus. Mainly China, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, which in the initial stages of the crisis managed to drastically reduce the rates of infection and deaths in their territories, responsibly managing the pandemic. Also, taking as a reference the link between economy and health, China has become the only large economy that grew, albeit minimally, in 2020, reflecting the decline of US hegemony and the deterioration of the role of the West as a major player in international dynamics.

Another element that has highlighted Asia's role in the geopolitical game has been the level of economic and commercial integration of the countries. Specifically, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in 2020 stand out. This integration has strengthened the countries' economic and security ties, structuring the region as a commercially cohesive bloc. The construction of the "New Silk Road" has been a strategic move by China, taking the interconnected effects of the globalization process to its advantage. The aim of the gigantic economic project is to connect China to the world, and thus establish itself as a major player in the international system, through a series of infrastructure projects. On the other hand, the stable economic growth of the Asian states contributes to the reduction of downturns in the economic cycle and sudden financial crises, providing a certain degree of stability to the international financial system.

In addition, they are beginning to operate in spaces beyond the conjuncture, the Central Bank of China has begun to test a digital version of the yuan, boosting the digitalization of the economic system, which would represent a significant impact on global geopolitics, placing the Asian continent as the international digital reference point, as well as the establishment of a challenge to the supremacy of the dollar as a means of commercial exchange (and specifically the U.S. hegemony). Fintech, commonly known as financial technology, has become a point of interest for Asian state apparatuses, not only in China but also in Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, with the aim of preserving its typology as a global financial center.

On the health front, successful management has emerged as a result of the state response system. In this crisis situation, the institutional tactic of "find, isolate, assess and deal with each case" has been managed. As a result of their state power, the apparatus has achieved the application of aggressive testing, tracing and subsequent quarantine. However, specifically in the case of Asia, the comparative advantage has been articulated in the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) as strategic tools for monitoring and controlling cases. For example, in China, Japan and Korea, the use of ICTs as strategic tools for the monitoring and control of cases has been a comparative advantage.

In the South, government-controlled mobile applications were created or adapted to facilitate effective tracking of Covid-19 positive cases.

Another lesson learned internationally from the management of the health crisis in Asia was the structured process of data collection and interpretation and research aimed at understanding the dynamics and behavior of the virus. Faced with the emergency in national territories, Asian states sought to establish partnerships with research centers through technology. During the implementation of such alliances, the importance of Asia as a center of research and technologies is put to the test, highlighting the geopolitical importance in health matters. As another example of the region's strength, a tracking system was used in Taiwan and Japan, supported by mapping contagion and epidemiological links. In addition, Hong Kong used a control system based on electronic bracelets, which were given to people arriving from abroad.

The relevance of Asia has been structured in conjunction with various socio-historical events in the region, exemplifying the role of states in the international game. However, it is important to mention the influence of Asian conflicts on international relations, driving the need to increase the focus of international public opinion, on issues such as China's historical situation with the territories of Hong Kong and Taiwan. As a result of the increased geopolitical importance of the continent, the spaces for international discussion and negotiations must be built with attention to the situation, progress and achievements of Asia.

The main international issues and problems of recent years have been built from the perspective of the increasing positive influence of the Asian continent, specifically China and the famous "Asian Tigers". It is also essential to understand the good management of the structural transformation of the international system of the Asian States, adapting from a perspective of sustained economic growth and governmental use of technologies within the framework of digital economy processes and in an interconnected society, however, this does not detract from the fact that there are also important problems in the region, both internally and between countries, for example, China has some open conflict fronts; Hong Kong, Taiwan, territorial conflicts over the construction of artificial islands, the trade war with the United States and a series of other conflicts that, if not well managed, could increase instability.

Similarly, the increase in social demands in countries such as Thailand, the coup d'état in Myanmar, the criticism of the political regimes in the Philippines and Singapore for their possible human rights violations, the constant corruption scandals in South Korea, are internal problems that suggest that there is no recipe model for development and although there are important economic advances, in Asia and Asia Pacific there are important challenges that must be addressed for the benefit of society.

Even so, the continent becomes the point of reference for the learning of other countries in a myriad of areas, an example to follow in economic and health terms, without a doubt, the 21st century is that of the Eastern Century.

This edition of the Central American Journal of Public Administration offers a series of reflections and lessons learned about the Asia-Pacific region in the current international context, characterized by the constant transformation of socio-political and economic structures. The geopolitical importance of the Asian region has permeated the mental structures of how to think about international relations between States, motivating the production of knowledge that structures the national and regional analysis of Asian States, as well as their influence at the international level in multilateral decision making.