Will war affect Asian vision?

SINGAPORE -- The Asian financial crisis of 1997-1998 was a defining moment for a majority of East Asian countries. It made them more aware of their individual vulnerabilities, and impressed upon them the need for regional stability to ensure continuous economic growth.

In the wake of the crisis, the ASEAN Plus Three group (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus Japan, China and South Korea) has grown into a forum of cooperation. The group's 13 member-nations have initiated a consultative process on economic, financial and social issues, and will likely extend it to cover political and security matters in the future. But three weeks into the war with Iraq, it is timely to ask whether the war in Iraq will adversely affect this vision?

Politically, East Asia appears split down the middle in terms of supporting and opposing the U.S.-led war.