US endeavour for so-called "encirclement" of China with ASEAN is just wishful thinking

Source
China Military Online
Editor
Liu Yuyuan
Time
2021-04-08 18:02:23

By Tang Qifang

The recent visits by four foreign ministers of ASEAN countries to China have drawn a lot of global attention. Many scholars and media commented that this is China’s powerful response to America as ASEAN is viewed by some westerners as the “last piece of the puzzle” in its attempt at forming a besiegement around China. Yet such an attempt is just America’s wishful thinking and will never become a reality.

From the perspective of historical experience, America’s attempt at besieging China contradicts ASEAN’s principle of neutrality and independence. When the association of nations was founded in 1967, the world was in the middle of the Cold War when the US and Soviet Union were in intense confrontation, and Southeast Asia became the forefront of the Cold War during the Vietnam War.

After explorations in the initial years, ASEAN members adopted a unified foreign stance and principle of neutrality and independence. In November 1971, five ASEAN members jointly released in Kuala Lumpur the milestone Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality Declaration (ZOPFAN), in which they proposed to “secure the recognition of, and respect for, South East Asia as a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality, free from any form or manner of interference by outside powers”, and stressed “the right of every state, large or small, to lead its national existence free from outside interference in its internal affairs ”.

For ASEAN countries that are surrounded by great powers, neutrality and independence are the lifelines and the foundation for their existence, and it is their commitment to this principle that has kept ASEAN thriving and developing amid the fast-changing major-power struggles today. Any action or attempt to force the association to pick sides between major countries poses the biggest threat to its survival and development – ASEAN is very aware of this and asked all partners attending the East Asia Summit to sign the declaration.

On August 8, 2020, foreign ministers of ASEAN countries released the Statement on the Importance of Maintaining Peace and Stability in Southeast Asia at the 53rd anniversary of the founding of the association, in which they reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, security, neutrality and stability in Southeast Asia . The purpose of releasing the statement at such a moment and regional situation is too clear – ASEAN will stick to their principle of neutrality and independence and will not take sides between major countries.

In terms of current politics, America’s besiegement of China challenges ASEAN’s central position. After the end of the Cold War, ASEAN leaders strongly advocated cooperation in East Asia and established a relationship of dialogue with China. In the past 30 years, ASEAN, with the strong support of China and other partners, has internally intensified solidarity among the member states and accelerated the building of a community while externally creating the East Asian cooperation mechanism and securing its own central position. It has evolved into a bloc of countries with strong internal cohesion and great international influence. However, the “China besiegement” and ganging-up pushed by Cold-War-minded Washington will seriously undermine ASEAN’s internal solidarity and external influence and challenge its central position.

On the one hand, America’s roping-in will exacerbate the divergences among ASEAM members and lead the association to division, even disintegration. ASEAN members vary greatly in their political system, economic level, religious belief and culture, not to mention the complicated historical issues such as territorial disputes. Their different relations, close or loose, with major countries outside the association also cause divergences and even contradiction in their judgment of respective interests. Under such circumstances, America’s interference in the South China Sea and attempt to rope in the claimants will only drive another wedge within ASEAN.

On the other hand, an escalated China-US struggle will undermine ASEAN’s position and marginalize it in the region. The precondition for the ASEAN-led East Asian cooperation mechanism to work is a relative balance and collaboration among regional powers. If the US keeps ramping up its provocations and pressure on China, the two countries will fall into deep-rooted structural conflicts on issues including the South China Sea, even with the possibility of direct conflicts, and that is far beyond the pale where ASEAN is able to lead and balance. Therefore, the association doesn’t want to see an escalated confrontation between China and the US, nor does it want to take sides between them.

As far as long-term interests are concerned, America’s “China besiegement” cannot go in parallel with ASEAN’s goal of “recovery and development”. One of its greatest achievements is economic progress, as the economic community has laid a solid foundation for building the ASEAN community, and the successful signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) well proves ASEAN’s important position in East Asia. All these achievements couldn’t have been made without the close collaboration between China and the association.

Since they formed the relation of dialogue 30 years ago, China and ASEAN have maintained close communication and practical cooperation, becoming each other’s biggest trading partner and important source of foreign investment. In the meantime, China has been firmly supporting ASEAN’s central and leading role in East Asian cooperation and is the first to sign the bilateral free trade agreement with it and join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia . The improvement and upgrade of regional industry chains promise great economic prospects for China and ASEAN countries and makes East Asia the strongest engine for global economic recovery and growth. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, China and ASEAN countries have stood together with mutual assistance and jointly fought the virus, injecting hope and vitality into the seriously hit world economy by taking the lead in resuming work and production. The two sides have long become a community of shared future and entwined interests defined by close interdependence and inseverable ties.

Therefore, America’s attempt to jointly besiege China with ASEAN countries will never come through because the last piece of the puzzle will not join as that will harm both the current and long-term interests of ASEAN countries.

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