Common versus diverging regional intersts

Comments on Ezra Vogel “Regionalism in Asia: Why we should stick with existing structures”, 30/03/2010, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2010/03/30/regionalism-in-asia-why-we-should-stick-with-existing-structures/

The author's view clearly reflects more of the interests of the US in the region, as well as its role in the region of Asia Pacific.

However, it remains to be seen if there are interests of Asian or East Asian countries that may go beyond those of the US interests.

For example, they may have their intra Asian regional affairs that have little to do with the US.

If those interests do not interest the US and the US has no desire or capacity to contribute to those intra Asian regional affairs, why shouldn't be an Asian regional body be set up to look after their own interests?

Understandably, there are common as well as diverging interests between Asia and the US.

Why should the US have a say on such a body?

Contrast to the view of the author, I see the need for both the current bodies and other regional bodies, with region properly defined.