NVDB005_-_CH_3.006._ASEAN-China_Special_Summit_-_Yang_Yue-2

39 — DP Vol. 05

Regional Security Dilemma: Trends, Directions, and Illusion

Prof. Dr. Yang Yue is Deputy Director of the Institute of Asian Studies at China Foreign Affairs University, Associate Professor. As a member of NACT China (Network of ASEAN-China Think- tanks), Dr Yue Yang has been actively engaging in Track II diplomacies. She received her PhD in International Relations from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. She was a Fulbright Scholar at Georgetown University in the U.S. from 2006 to 2008. Her research focuses on American politics and foreign policy, ASEAN-China relations, East Asia Regional Coopera- tion, and cultural diplomacy. Her most recent books include Theory and Practice of China’s Cultural Diplomacy - An Empirical and Country-specific Study; The Belt and Road Initiative: ASEAN Countries’ Perspectives; ASEAN-China Cooperation for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Energy Development, and most recent articles include “ASEAN’s Perception of and Response to China-US Competition”; “Theoretical Analysis and Practical Approaches of Cultural Diplomacy: A Perspective of the “Civilization Dialogue Theory”; and “Major Power Competition and the Trump Admin- istration’s policy toward Southeast Asia.”

The 2021 ASEAN-China Special Summit to commem- orate the 30th anniversary of dialogue relations began a new chapter in ASEAN-China relations. Jointly building a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) has become a principal goal for both sides to achieve in the years to come. However, with the Biden admin- istration’s newly released Indo-pacific strategy still centering on the containment of China 1 and a series of negative geo-political and geo-economic impacts of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, leaders of both sides require greater wisdom and vision to meet new challenges while simultaneously seizing the opportunity to ensure a peaceful environment for regional development.

Lessons from the Russia-Ukraine Conflict for the Region

Important lessons should be heeded from the Ukraine crisis, especially since what is happening here could happen elsewhere, including in the Asia-pacific. Although the Asia-Pacific is the most dynamic region in the world, there are still several ongoing hotspot issues, such as South China Sea territorial dispute. This area could turn out to be the ground for hot conflict if such issues cannot be properly managed by the regional countries involved. An important lesson from the Russia-Ukraine conflict is that peace is not to be undervalued. ASEAN countries and China are alike in their desire to maintain peace. Thus, only by continuously adhering to the settling of disputes by peaceful means can regional security be safeguarded and regional prosperity continue. The other lesson from Russia-Ukraine conflict is that inclusive security can ensure sustainable peace for all. The sustainable security of Europe cannot be achieved by excluding Russia. The same is true of the Indo-pacific. The US indo-pacific strategy aimed at excluding China is sure

1 “Indo-Pacific Strategy of the United States,” The White House, February 2022, https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/ uploads/2022/02/U.S.-Indo-Pacific-Strategy.pdf.

to sabotage the peace and security of the region.

Opportunities for Stronger ASEAN- China Relations under the CSP

ASEAN declaring a CSP with China and Australia at the same time and reluctance to frame the CSP with China as an “upgrade,” demonstrates the pressures it faces in the current major-power rivalry and its prudence in navigating through relations with its external partners. ASEAN’s concern should be well noted and accom- modated by its external partners. To support ASEAN centrality and make the CSP deliver for its citizens is the best way to relieve the stress on ASEAN. With the increasingly tense major-power rivalry that is currently taking place in the region, ASEAN has been seeking to expand its external partnership in order to create more geostrategic space for maneuvering. With the expansion of its external partnerships, ASEAN on one hand feels under-resourced to manage such a big circle of friends 2. On the other hand however, it also seeks to determine how to identify the most appropriate means to engage such partners in order not to create a competitive tendency among them and maximize the benefits from partnership. In light of this situation, China could help by providing third-party market cooperation in Southeast Asia. Currently, China has signed documents on third-party market cooperation with several countries, such as France, Italy, Japan and the UK. ASEAN, as an honest broker, which was stated in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), should also encourage third-party market cooperation between China and its other external partners, thereby both harmonizing relations among ASEAN’s external partners and bringing additional benefits to the region without damaging ASEAN’s interests.

2 “Revisiting ASEAN and ASEAN-led Mechanisms: Taking Stock and Thinking Through,”ASEAN Political-Security Community Outlook, Volume 4, 2022, p.56.