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Topic: ASEAN Relations with China under Peaceful Development Policy

IntroductionIn recent years Chinese government manages a fruitful and prospering relationshipwith ASEAN, which Professor Ong refers as a win-win partnership. But asillustrated by The Economist in the March report on China, Chinas rise tosuperpower status generates as much as fear as admiration. Scholars andpolitical leaders in the region concern how China will rise and the subsequent

impacts brought to her ASEAN neighbors. As Professor Zheng from University ofNottingham had mentioned about Chinas Peaceful Rise, since early 1990s there arenumerous policy papers arguing about the China threat theories and suggested theneed to contain and restrain the rising China. Similar views shared by ProfessorYahuda in carrying out the viewpoint that Chinas participation in regionalpolitical and security patterns of cooperation still remain uncertain , despite aeconomic cooperation between both parties. He viewed the cooperative behaviorChina demonstrates merely a requirement to create a peaceful environment for herown stability and economic growth, instead of a real cooperation that Chinacommunist leaders come easily and naturally. Chinese government therefore cameup with the concept of peaceful rise, which later replaced by the termspeaceful development to share the concept in which China could emerge as a worldpower in a peaceful way and harm nobody.

In this paper, we will discuss briefly on the concept of peaceful development andexamines whether the policies and actions taken by China with her Southeast Asianneighbors in previous years fulfilled the ideology. Lastly we would review somepotential challenges in the relationship between a rising China and ASEAN members.

What is Peaceful Rise or Peaceful Development?We kept on hearing these terms from President Hu, Premier Wen or fellow seniorofficials in different occasion, sometimes in top Amercian schools, sometimes inPolitburo meetings, indeed it is a phrase first introduced by Zheng Bijian, formerVice President of the Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party duringthe Boao Forum for Asia in 2003. He stated Chinas peaceful rise is part of

Asias peaceful rise, the modernization and reform processes and the rise ofChina are directly linked to the experiences and development of other Asiancountries. And President Hu Jintao repeated to use the terms in several otheroccasions like official visit to France, internal meetings and commemorativefunction of Mao Zedong. It is a value, which represents China rise ordevelopment as an opportunity instead of a threat. Later the term modified asdevelopment as rise evokes apprehension among Chinese neighbors and strategiccompetitors. And following the guiding principles established by Deng Xiaoping,Observe developments soberly, maintain our position, meet challenges calmly, hideour capacities and bide our time, remain free of ambition and never claimleadership., even to later period Jiang Zemins enhancing confidence, reducingtroubles, expanding cooperation and avoiding confrontation, it is obvious thatChina wish to implement a pragmatic foreign policy in establishing a defensive

instead of assertive foreign policy with reference to her wish to develop apeaceful environment which benefits her development.

Early PRC SEA relationsAt the very beginning of the PRC ruling the new China, the relationship withSoutheast Asian nations was not that smooth and promising, mainly because of theChinese support to Burmese Communist Party, and the overseas Chinese viewed as anextension of Chinese influence in the region. Only since the Bandung Asian-AfricanConference where China made friends and influence with the regional neighbors bythe agreement of Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, referring to mutualrespect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-aggression, non-

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interference in internal affairs of other countries, equality of status and mutualbenefit. Mutual trust and friendship started to develop, as Professor Stuart Foxmentioned, Relations with Indonesia warmed, trade expanded rapidly, ; personalrelations between U Nu of Burma and Zhou Enlai blossomed and lead to negotiationson a principle issue of concern to the Burmese: demarcation of the frontier. ,and a Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Non-Aggression was signed with Cambodia.

But disputes between China and Vietnam in the Cambodia invasion and suspicion of

China communism had once again brought the Southeast Asian countries further fromChina. Ironically, the formation of Association of Southeast Asian Nations at thevery beginning was a response to the growing communist threat. Indonesiasuspended diplomatic ties with China in October 1967 with the new anti-communistSuharto military force came to power. PRC once considered ASEAN as a tool ofAmerican imperialists aiming at containing China and other communist power.With a new cold war situation developed, Soviet Union and United States influencebegan to grow in the Southeast Asia region, China started to reevaluate herpolicies with fellow ASEAN nations. China began to develop friendly diplomaticrelations with several countries like Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines inmid 1970s. But not until the settlement of Cambodia arrived in early 1990s,Vietnam then once again found itself looking to China. And with the open doorpolicy and successful economic development in late 20th century, China developed a

closer relationship with ASEAN nations through trade and investment. WithSingapore and Brunei establishing diplomatic relationship with Beijing in 1990, itstarted a new page in PRC-SEA relationship in modern times. Remarkably, Chinabecame one of the ASEANs dialogue partners and a member of the ASEAN RegionalForum (ARF) for the discussion of security in mid 1990s.

Series of Declarations and TreatiesBy acceding into treaties and declaration perhaps is an important and significantprocess to consolidate the relationship built between China and ASEAN. TheDeclaration on the Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea in 2002 guidedthe conduct of both parties in the area. In order to combat transnational crimelike terrorism, sea piracy, human trafficking and all sorts of non-traditionalsecurity issues, ASEAN and China came with the Memorandum of Understanding in the

Field of Non-Traditional Security Issues. As Professor Ong stated, the milestoneachievement was China accession to ASEANs Treaty of Amity and Cooperation inSoutheast China. In addition to the Joint Declaration on the StrategicPartnership for Peace and Prosperity, China apparently pay high level of respectand positive response to ASEAN neighboring nations as partners and promote peaceand security in the region. Besides, the Framework Agreement on ComprehensiveEconomic Cooperation targeted to make Free Trade Area possible in 2010 for ASEAN-6, then 2015 for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV). All of thesedeclarations and treaties came along with the active participation of both partiesin engaging to the formation of a stronger political and economic partnership.Also, it would provide a solid foundation for ASEAN and China to collaborate andcooperate in regional security issues, economic advancement and solving thedisputed borders problem.

Good Neighborliness with ASEAN nationsASEAN and China had shared common borders and have deep historical and culturallinkages. Professor Zheng discussed this policy in depth in his discussion paper,he stated between September and October 2003, Premier Wen, State Counselor andForeign Minister had stressed the importance of friendliness and companionship toneighbours through calming, enriching and befriending. During the early to mid20th century, China had still several disputes over the borders with numerouscountries, while now almost all have been settled, with the exception of SpratlyIslands, islands with Japan and India in Himalayas. For the Spratly Islandscase, China had agreed a multilateral declaration over it by singing a declaration

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on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. And acceding to the Treaty ofamity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia showed China and countries in ASEAN arestepping forward to some form of institutional consolidation. This approachsuggested by Herman would provide a fulcrum for the relationship, buildingconfidence and eventually becoming bulwarks of an effective regionalarchitecture.

Besides that, China had increased trade with ASEAN countries significantly in the

past few years, from US$ 25.4 billion in 1997 to 78.3 billion in 2003 and adramatic 130.4 billion in 2005. As Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi had expressedChina and ASEAN should team upgrasp opportunities, meet challenges and withstandthe fierce competition on a global basis. And China had contributedsignificantly in the Asian Financial Crisis in stabilizing the region. By US$1billion financial assistance to Thailand, US4-6 billion for the IMF programmes tosupport the whole Southeast Asia. And the important move in not devaluing thecurrency Renminbi (or yuan) had strengthened up the confidence for her neighborsin the region. It prevented another destructive devaluations of other Asiancurrency which could have caused greater damage to the regional economy. And theformation of China ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) in 2010 would foresee a tariffelimination of over 7000 items. These economic gestures had certainly showedChinas willingness to engage with the region and act as a responsible political,

economic and trading partner. As Zheng stated China will continue to make effortsin maintaining good relations with ASEAN as a showcase to the world that Chinacould be a trusted partner and responsible player in the global order. ASEAN alsohoped China would continue this positive foreign policy in playing a strategicrole in the region. As Philippines President Arroyo said in the 12th ASEAN Summit,We (ASEAN) look to China to take the lead in promoting good neighborly relationsand regional cooperation by handling sensitive issues with surrounding countriesin a manner that is guided by the spirit of equality, respect, consultation andmutual benefit. It is foreseeable for a closer relationship between China andASEAN in coming years, not only in trade and investment, but also in political andcultural realm.Worries and SkepticismChina is quite determined to regain her rightful place as a global power and being

recognized, respected and deferred to as such in the world affairs. But with therecent rapid increase in military budget, unresolved political conflict withTaiwan, internal anti-Japan sentiment, disagreement over the boundaries in EastChina Sea and the internal economic inequalities and government corruption, Chinaitself is facing lots of suspicious and skepticism from her surrounding nations.Argued by the Economist report on China recently, ASEAN would use America as abalancing force with China, for instance, Singapore recently signed an agreementallowing American forces greater access, Indonesia and America have resumedbilateral military contacts, so does Vietnam wants to forge a strategic alliancewith the former enemy. Also, some political scientists are skeptical about thereal motivation behind Chinas engagement in the region, arguably China primarytarget is the energy resources. Recent Economists research on the Chinese aid toCambodia is a typical example, for China, oil shipping from Cambodia has

strategic value, for it would not have to pass through the American-guardedMalacca Straits. Same arguments was expressed by Professor Glosny in worryingthe ACFTA may end up creating a colonial economic relationship as forcing ASEANnations into less profitable sectors for China to secure access to raw materialssuch as oil, natural gas, rubber and tin.

Future OutlookEveryone is paying attention on how a rising China could develop a peacefulrelationship with her surrounding neighbors. Michael Swain and Ashley Tellis arguethat China would pursue a calculative strategy by promoting a market economyto ensure rapid economic growth, avoiding the use of force while modernizing

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military capacity and expand Chinas political influence around the globe.Therefore a closer economic cooperation with ASEAN is ensured, minor politicaldifferences and border disputes could be set aside to maintain the good neighborpolicies. While for ASEAN, on one hand they would want China to invest more in theregion and behave well in political sense, they would also want United States toremain a powerful presence as a balancing force.

The real solution

From political, security and economic perspective, it would be beneficial for bothASEAN and China to further cooperate and develop strategic partnership in allaspects. It would certainly bring mutual benefits and a win-win situation incoming decades with reference to the success made in previous years. In order tocompletely ease the situation of fear and charm offensive nature projected onChina by fellow ASEAN nations, China have to demonstrate more on her openness andpluralism , no matter it is the military expense, economic policy, or evenpolitical reform. Once trust and consensus build among China and fellow ASEANnations, then a rising China with peaceful development would be a goldenopportunity for the region to grasp and no longer to be viewed as a potentialthreat.