Relations with Asean are China’s priority, says foreign minister as US also courts Southeast Asia
- While marking the 30th anniversary of formal ties with the bloc, Wang Yi promotes ‘multilateralism with Asian characteristics’
- US defence chief meanwhile says his visit to the region will ‘deepen America’s bonds with the allies and partners on whom our common security depends’
Foreign Minister Wang Yi said ties with Southeast Asia were a priority for China and called for “multilateralism with Asian characteristics”, as the country seeks to counter US moves in the region.
“China has always made Asean its priority for diplomacy in the region … and firmly supports Asean’s central role in regional cooperation,” Wang said, according to the Chinese foreign ministry readout on Thursday. “Both sides should conduct frequent communication on all levels, and continue with mutual understanding and support for each other’s core interests.”
Wang also urged the two sides to adopt what he called “multilateralism with Asian characteristics” as well as an open and inclusive regional cooperation mechanism that he said would contribute to building a more “just, peaceful and safe world”.
China wants to ‘seize control’ of multilateral organisations: UK report
Beijing has also stressed the need to build a “more just” and “inclusive” global order, according to the foreign ministry’s rhetoric – an order China views as tilted towards Western democracies.
Beijing will not engage in intense ideological war with the US: expert
But wariness over China’s growing assertiveness in the region has also made rival claimants such as Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia “less willing” to push forward negotiations, according to Wu Shicun, president of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, a think tank in Hainan.
In a meeting with his Asean counterparts in June, Wang called for the relationship to be upgraded to that of a comprehensive strategic partnership – which China has already established with some member states – but so far there has been no upgrade.