Somlang

Imagining Ourselves as Asians

By Erwin S. Fernandez

Global Student Reporter

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PANGASINAN, the Philippines ㅡ Nowadays, words like "imagine'' and "imagination'' have become so trite that they have become commonplace in discursive practices. Benedict Anderson's Imagined Communities is a dissertation on the origins and spread of nationalism whose provocative ideas can also apply to the three following concepts ㅡ pan-Asianism, Asian identity and Asian community.

Pan-Asianism seems to be resurging everywhere, particularly after Asian nations, having been freed from their colonial masters, embarked on the twin-processes of decolonization and modernization. Japanese imperialist propaganda on "Asia for the Asians'' in support of the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere'' provided at least the seed for pan-Asian solidarity to germinate over the upcoming decades. Japan's defeat of the United States in the Philippines conflict during World War II shattered the myth of Western superiority and invulnerability and thus, became a source of pride and belief in Asia's reawakening from its colonial past.

Japan's rise to power in the global capitalist economy followed by Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan in recent decades was enough reason for Samuel Huntington to posit his claim on the "decline of the West.'' China's latest entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001 confirmed former Philippine senator and diplomat Leticia Ramos-Shahani's declaration of the "Pacific century.''

The recent election of Ban Ki-moon as the U.N. secretary general, the second Asian to hold the post after U Thant of Burma, is another long overdue affirmation of Asia's growing ascendancy on the world stage.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) composed of eleven countries and established in late 1960s is at present a major regional grouping concerned with economic cooperation. The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), although it includes member nations that cross four continents, affirms the growing importance of Asia and the Pacific Rim in global free trade. We can also add the East Asian Growth Area (EAGA) conceptualized in the late 90s, which promotes and encourages free trade in the region.

When did Filipinos acquire their Asian identity?

Although geographically the Philippines is located in Southeast Asia, a U.S. military designated area during the war, after its independence in 1946 it suffered from a schizophrenic character. Colonized by Spain for 300 years and controlled by the U.S. for more or less 50 years, undoubtedly Filipino leaders and policymakers extolled values from the West on the one hand but were also proud of their Asian heritage on the other.

During the late 40s, the Philippines, however, instead of gaining respect from fellow neighbors, suspicious of its Asian identity was derided as merely an American satellite. Claro M. Recto, a brilliant Filipino nationalist and foremost critic of Philippine foreign policy, kicked off the struggle toward decolonization, which called for the reorientation of foreign policy toward Asia.

The successive administrations after Magsaysay slowly adopted Recto's prescription for an independent foreign policy, which during the 20-year rule of President Ferdinand Marcos, culminated in the opening of diplomatic networks with different countries of the world, even with Communist or socialist political systems, finally claiming its Asian identity.

Globalization makes the world smaller. As communication and travel become easier and faster than before, the contact among Asians becomes frequent and this facilitates cultural understanding and interaction. However, as Asians meet other Asians, their identity as Filipinos, Koreans, Japanese, Chinese or Indians is emphasized even more, as each asserts to show their respective cultural differences. Being Asian is imagining differences.

[First published in The Korea Times 27 September 2007]