ASEAN and evolving power relations in East Asia: strategies and constraints

Abstract

This article seeks to examine constraints and challenges that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) states are confronted with in formulating and implementing their strategies in response to evolving regional environments represented by the rise of China. It argues that China's southern neighbours have adopted purposeful strategies in order to mitigate potentially negative effects from China's growing capabilities in East Asia. These strategies led to the expansion of membership in the East Asia Summit (EAS) and positive involvement in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, encouraging America's substantial commitments to the Asia-Pacific. However, ASEAN has failed to form the unified front on the EAS and TPP because its members have adopted diverse stances on and policies towards the two institutions. Moreover, an identity issue constitutes a crucial impediment to promoting cooperation between ASEAN members and the USA. While Washington has intensified diplomatic linkages with ASEAN, the US identity shown in its adherence to the results-oriented approach still provokes some concerns among the ASEAN members.

Keywords:

• the rise of China
• East Asia Summit
• Trans-Pacific Partnership
• soft balancing
• hedging

Notes

See also He (2008) for institutional balancing with similar implications to soft balancing.

Schweller belongs to the so-called neoclassical realist school, which argues that the scope and ambition of a state's foreign policy is driven first and foremost by the systemic factors, but the impact of the systemic factors are translated through domestic politics factors (Rose 1998). Schweller identifies elite cohesion as one of the domestic politics variables.

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The US trade with the TPP members just accounted for 5.4% of its overall trade with the world in 2010.

The bumiputera policy aims to give socoi-economic support to the indigenous Malay people (bumiputera). The policy was set by the New Economic Policy, which began in 1971 after the racial riots in May 1969.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hidetaka Yoshimatsu

Hidetaka Yoshimatsu is Professor of International Relations at the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan.