The US is taking on Beijing over the South China Sea, but Asean remains cautious
- With US-China ties fraying and a need for trade with China amid the Covid-19 pandemic, countries in the region cannot risk siding with Washington, analysts say
- Negotiations over a code of conduct in the disputed waterway could also stall following the US’ assertions that Beijing’s claims are ‘completely unlawful’
Observers said countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations were also worried about the ramifications of a possible clash between the world’s two largest economies after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday said China’s assertions of sovereignty in the disputed waterway were “completely unlawful”.
“However, they may have to do so in such a manner that they won’t be seen as siding with Washington against Beijing,” Le said.
The strategic rivalry between the US and China has in recent weeks seen ties between the two deteriorate over issues ranging from the tariff war, trade imbalances, the origins of Covid-19 and Hong Kong’s autonomy.
Bilateral relations have now frayed to the point that some analysts have pointed out that Beijing and Washington had not met dialogue partners in Asia together to discuss Covid-19 coordination, although they had individually done so through other institutions and mechanisms such as Asean+3 and the Quad, the Indo-Pacific grouping of the US, India, Japan and Australia.
Lucio Blanco Pitlo III, research fellow with the Asia-Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation, said many Asean countries needed to maintain their ties with China to ensure their economic recovery amid the pandemic.