50 years on, the South China Sea stands between Asean and ‘one community’
Cary Huang says many Asean members are caught between ‘China opportunities’ and the ‘China threat’, as they walk a tightrope between security ally US and an assertive Beijing, with disputes in the South China Sea threatening regional stability
But the deeper economic engagement between China and its smaller neighbours does not automatically translate into trust and friendship. Instead, mutual suspicion is on the rise, due to conflicting geopolitical interests amid rising US-China rivalry over domination of regional affairs.
The China-Asean Free Trade Area took effect in 2010. As of 2016, China had been Asean’s biggest trading partner for eight consecutive years, while the bloc ranked as China’s third-largest trading partner for six years in a row. Two-way trade totalled US$452.2 billion last year, with combined two-way investment crossing US$183 billion this May.
Why China and the US cannot afford to ignore Asean
Amid such a complex environment, Asean has been walking a tightrope in balancing China and the US-led West.
That is, trying to promote economic integration with China to benefit from its phenomenal growth, while relying on the US for security protection.
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While it has made significant progress in regional integration through creating the Asean Political-Security Community, Asean Economic Community and Asean Socio-Cultural Community, the group has yet to gain credibility at the international level as an effective regional organisation.
As it celebrates its 50th anniversary next Tuesday, Asean has not yet accomplished its mission of achieving “one vision, one identity and one community”, in the face of the increasingly complex geopolitical, strategic and security situation in the region.
Cary Huang is a senior writer at the Post