Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd thinks big. He wants to turn Asia into another European Union and, last week, he began his campaign to make that concept a reality. But is it realistic to expect rivals like the US, China, Japan and India - each at differing stages of development and jealously guarding their spheres of interest - to come together and co-operate, European style? And, even if it is feasible, has Australia the clout to drive such an initiative?
Mr Rudd sought to answer some of these fundamental questions in a speech delivered to the Asia Society, in Canberra, last Thursday. He outlined the idea of the creation of an Asia-Pacific Community. 'A regional institution which spans the entire Asia-Pacific region - including the United States, Japan, China India, Indonesia and the other states of the region'; one which is 'able to engage in the full spectrum of dialogue, co-operation and action on economic and political matters and future challenges related to security'.
Given that the EU was borne out of the aftermath of horrendous conflict, does Mr Rudd believe that the Asia-Pacific region is facing the same grim prospect unless it gets its collective house in order now? He does, and his argument has much validity if one considers the challenges facing the region over the next few decades.
Mr Rudd rightly observes that the global economic and strategic weight is moving inexorably towards Asia in the 21st century. Asia will constitute almost half the value of world gross domestic product by 2020, and one-third of global trade. Over half the world's population will live in Asia by the end of the next decade. And, by the same time, military spending in Asia will account for a quarter of the world's total.
Behind these staggering statistics, looking holistically at the region, one sees some significant issues that, if not dealt with on a co-operative basis, could provide the fuel for serious conflict in the not-too-distant future.
Mr Rudd outlined some of these challenges in his speech. Firstly, there are the existing conflict zones of Kashmir, the Taiwan Strait and the Korean peninsula. There is the inherent tension that comes from rapid economic growth and the way in which that growth is dispersed among communities. And, while Mr Rudd did not single it out specifically, there is the spectre of climate change creating food shortages, mass movements of people and placing a brake on economic growth.