First East Asia Summit

The 16 countries and 1 observer involved were:

File:PMincoffs.jpg|{{flagicon|Australia}} John Howard
Prime Minister of Australia

File:Hassanal Bolkiah.jpg|{{flagicon|Brunei}} Hassanal Bolkiah
Sultan & Prime Minister of Brunei

File:Hun Sen (2016) cropped.jpg|{{flagicon|Cambodia}} Hun Sen
Prime Minister of Cambodia

File:Wen Jiabao 2008.jpg|{{flagicon|China}} Wen Jiabao
Premier of China

File:IBSA-leaders Manmohan Singh.jpg|{{flagicon|India}} Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India

File:20041120-6 bushindonesiamtg1-515h cropped.jpg|{{flagicon|Indonesia}} Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
President of Indonesia

File:Koizumi 2010 cropped.png|{{flagicon|Japan}} Junichiro Koizumi
Prime Minister of Japan

File:Bounnhang Vorachith 2016 (cropped).jpg|{{flagicon|Laos}} Bounnhang Vorachith
Prime Minister of Laos

File:AB April 2008.jpg|{{flagicon|Malaysia}} Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Prime Minister of Malaysia
(Chairperson)

File:SoeWin cropped.jpg|{{flagicon|Myanmar|1974}} Soe Win
Prime Minister of Myanmar

File:Helen Clark UNDP 2010.jpg|{{flagicon|New Zealand}} Helen Clark
Prime Minister of New Zealand

File:Gloria Macapagal Arroyo WEF 2009-crop.jpg|{{flagicon|Philippines}} Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
President of the Philippines

File:LeeHsienLoongViet.jpg|{{flagicon|Singapore}} Lee Hsien Loong
Prime Minister of Singapore

File:Roh Moo-hyun presidential portrait.jpg|{{flagicon|South Korea}} Roh Moo-hyun
President of South Korea

File:Thaksin crop.jpg|{{flagicon|Thailand}} Thaksin Shinawatra
Prime Minister of Thailand

File:Tran Duc Luong, Nov 17, 2004.jpg|{{flagicon|Vietnam}} Tran Duc Luong
President of Vietnam

• observer

File:Vladimir Putin official portrait.jpg|{{flagicon|Russia}} Vladimir Putin
President of Russia

While India is included in Asia it is normally identified as part of South Asia not East Asia. Australia and New Zealand are usually included in Oceania rather than Asia, although some differ and the distinction can be unclear, and they may be seen as part of the Asia Pacific.

The involvement of countries not seen as traditionally part of East Asia, especially Australia and New Zealand but to a lesser extent India as well, was seen as controversial by some. The inclusion of Australia and New Zealand was considered problematic as these nations were said to be neither geographically nor culturally part of Asia. Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, credited with raising the idea of an East Asian caucus, was especially critical of the involvement of Australia and New Zealand.{{Cite web|url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=76332|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060619183728/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=76332|url-status=dead|title=Mahathir blasts Australia over summit - NineMSN|archive-date=19 June 2006}}

Australia's presence was only confirmed after Australia reversed its previous policy and agreed to accede to ASEAN's Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.ABC Transcript of Alexander Downer [http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2005/s1424916.htm] Yahoo News {{cite web |title=Australia to Sign Peace Pact to Join East ASIA Summit |url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/050724/3/p/v7s6.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060618214044/http://au.news.yahoo.com/050724/3/p/v7s6.html |archive-date=2006-06-18 |access-date=2007-11-14}}

The presence of India was met by "quiet resistance" from China.[http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=88748 Executive decisions] This stance may have reflected, in part, the perception that the presence of India would act to lessen Chinese influence in the EAS, as discussed further below.

Although not strictly East Asian all three countries did have a notable history with ASEAN. In 1974 Australia became ASEAN's first dialogue partner.{{Cite web |url=http://www.aseansec.org/12974.htm |title=Overview of ASEAN-Australia Relations |access-date=2007-11-14 |archive-date=2007-09-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930222130/http://www.aseansec.org/12974.htm |url-status=usurped }} New Zealand became a dialogue partner in the following year, 1975.{{Cite web |url=http://www.aseansec.org/5826.htm |title=Overview of ASEAN-New Zealand Relations |access-date=2007-11-14 |archive-date=2008-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080113231718/http://www.aseansec.org/5826.htm |url-status=usurped }} Summits with ASEAN for both countries were first held in 1977.

It has been suggested that the final membership of the EAS represents an "anti-region", supplied in order to prevent the emergence of a regional community in Asian East Asia, rather than a region.[http://www.stanleyfoundation.org/publications/pab/Breslin_07_PAB.pdf Supplying Demand or Demanding Supply? An Alternative Look at the Forces Driving East Asian Community Building] stanleyfoundation.org

Australia and New Zealand as the two Closer Economic Relations (CER) countries have also developed close ties with ASEAN{{Cite web|url=http://www.aseansec.org/16576.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130414074118/http://www.aseansec.org/16576.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 14, 2013|title=ASEAN document}} and have been negotiating a CER-ASEAN free trade agreement since 2004.{{cite web | url=http://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/fta/asean/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217170959/http://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/fta/asean/ | archive-date=2007-12-17 | title=The Australia - ASEAN - New Zealand Free Trade Agreement }}

The linkages between ASEAN and India are more recent.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aseansec.org/5738.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130414064445/http://www.aseansec.org/5738.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 14, 2013|title=ASEAN document}} India did not become a full ASEAN dialogue partner until 1995. Nevertheless, India's "look East" policy has placed particular emphasis on building relationships in the Asian region.{{cite web | url=http://www.globalpolicy.org/globaliz/econ/2003/1011indiaasean.htm | title=India's 'Look East' Policy Pays off }}

Japan–China and Japan–South Korea ties were strained ahead of the first Summit because of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi controversial visits to the Yasukuni shrine, which honors 14 war criminals alongside Japan's other fallen soldiers. These visits are perceived by China and South Korea as symptomatic of a Japan that has not come to terms with its role in World War II, a conclusion disputed by Japan.{{cite web | title=Koizumi shrine visit blasted as leaders meet | website=China Daily Website | date=11 December 2005 | url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-12/11/content_502386.htm | access-date=9 May 2024}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/GL13Ae02.html|title=Asia Times Online :: Southeast Asia news and business from Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam|date=14 December 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051214133740/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/GL13Ae02.html |accessdate=3 May 2024|archive-date=December 14, 2005 }}

The most recent (at the time) visit by Prime Minister Koizumi was on 17 October 2005, so the issue was still fresh by the EAS in December. As a result, the traditional Japan–China–South Korea meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN Plus Three meeting (which preceded the EAS) was cancelled by China and South Korea.{{Cite web |url=http://www.csis.org/images/stories/pacfor/0504qjapan_china.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2007-11-14 |archive-date=2007-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071115010259/http://www.csis.org/images/stories/pacfor/0504qjapan_china.pdf |url-status=dead }}

The presence of the non-East Asian India, and to a lesser extent Australia and New Zealand, was seen by some as an attempt by some members of ASEAN (such as Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines) to include countries who by their size or economies may act as a check to the rising influence of China, especially as the weakness in Sino-Japanese relations undermined the ability of Japan to perform that role.{{cite web | url=http://www.bowring.net/easiasummit.htm | title=An Asian Union? Not yet - Editorials & Commentary - International Herald Tribune }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldpress.org/Asia/2192.cfm|title=Battle Looms Over Inaugural East Asia Summit - Worldpress.org|website=www.worldpress.org|accessdate=3 May 2024}}

China has attributed the presence of Australia and India to Japanese influence.[http://english.people.com.cn/200512/07/eng20051207_226350.html East Asia Summit: in the shadow of sharp divisions] {{webarchive|date=14 December 2005|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051214030934/http://english.people.com.cn/200512/07/eng20051207_226350.html}}

The absence of the United States of America was seen by some commentators as symptomatic of what was said to be the USA's declining influence in Asia.{{cite web | url=http://www.ips.org/asiaamerica/morevoices/2005/china4.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060624072215/http://www.ips.org/asiaamerica/morevoices/2005/china4.html | archive-date=2006-06-24 | title=In Asia, Washington Loses Ground to China | author = Tim Shorrock |agency = Inter Press Service }}

Some view this as linked with what is perceived as Chinese influence rising.{{Cite web |url=http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/13002947.htm |title=KR Washington Bureau | 10/26/2005 | as China rises, many rush to get on the 'Middle Kingdom' bandwagon |access-date=2007-11-14 |archive-date=2005-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051027234004/http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/13002947.htm |url-status=dead }}

The difficulties in the relationship between the "Plus Three" members (i.e. Japan, China and South Korea) of ASEAN Plus three together with the positioning of parties due to the presence of the non-East Asian countries, India, Australia and New Zealand, resulted in limitations in what could be achieved at the inaugural EAS. The role of the inaugural EAS then became a confidence building and familiarisation exercise.

The Kuala Lumpur declaration{{Cite web|url=http://www.aseansec.org/18098.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060206111737/http://www.aseansec.org/18098.htm|url-status=usurped|title=Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the East Asia Summit, Kuala Lumpur, 14 December 2005|archive-date=6 February 2006}} and the Avian Influenza Prevention, Control and Response{{Cite web|url=http://www.aseansec.org/18101.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060206111744/http://www.aseansec.org/18101.htm|url-status=usurped|title=East Asia Summit Declaration on Avian Influenza Prevention, Control and Response, Kuala Lumpur, 14 December 2005|archive-date=6 February 2006}} declaration were signed by the 16 leaders during the first EAS.

It was agreed to hold future EASs in conjunction with the annual ASEAN meetings.

The outcomes that were achieved are summarised in the Chairman’s Statement of the First East Asia Summit.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aseansec.org/18104.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051216112947/http://www.aseansec.org/18104.htm|url-status=usurped|title=Chairman's Statement of the First East Asia Summit, Kuala Lumpur, 14 December 2005|archive-date=16 December 2005}}

The Second East Asia Summit was scheduled for the Philippines.

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