Regional Integration Within Greater China – State of Play and Future Prospects in: B. Andreosso-O’Callaghan, J. Jaussaud et B. Zolin (dir.), Economic Integration in Asia – Towards the Delineation of a Sustainable Path, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 2014

Although the Greater China region is often said to constitute an increasingly well-structured economic player, a systematic analysis of intra-regional interactions is not readily available. This chapter seeks to fill this gap.

It shows firstly that the degree of economic integration is not as high as often claimed; secondly, that economic integration is mainly driven by intra-industry and processing trade; and lastly, that China’s special role in the region accounts for these results. The paper further argues that due to China’s recent efforts to upgrade its technological capabilities and to encourage the development of its domestic market, major changes can be expected in the way the Greater China region operates.

Keywords

Regional integration Asia China