China is a member of the East Asia Cooperation Organization, ASEAN, and sub-regional cooperation organizations. It participates in most economic and security cooperation organizations in which ASEAN and other countries participate. However, looking at...
China is a member of the East Asia Cooperation Organization, ASEAN, and sub-regional cooperation organizations. It participates in most economic and security cooperation organizations in which ASEAN and other countries participate. However, looking at China's cooperation behavior with ASEAN, contrary to the rhetoric of the Chinese government and leaders, it is not only more interested in bilateral cooperation with countries with similar interests rather than common regional interests, but also an organization in which ASEAN exercises leadership. Rather, China prefer to cooperate through organizations it has created. From its accession to the WTO to Mekong development and the BRI(Belt and Road Initiative), China's cooperation plans and strategies with neighboring countries, including ASEAN, have been consistently linked to the development of underdeveloped areas in the country, such as western development, solving the problem of overcapacity, and developing the domestic market. In addition, looking at the form of the Mekong development cooperation or the BRI promotion process and its behavior so far, it is not much different from the behavior of European imperialist countries in the past. The construction of infrastructure relying on debt, promoted in countries with weak economic conditions and finances, has resulted in problems such as non-communication due to unilateral implementation in various places, problems with the use of Chinese workers, problems with profit monopoly, repeated economic crises due to excessive debt, and land or ports due to debt. There are many cases of sovereignty infringement, such as cases of takeover.
It does not seem easy to stop China's growing influence in ASEAN and East Asia. In regional cooperation, including ASEAN, space can be found to manage the expansion of China's influence only by encouraging China to cooperate within the multilateral cooperation framework. ASEAN's efforts to deal with China within a multilateral framework as much as possible are considered reasonable. To respond to China's rise and expansion of influence, ASEAN's independence is further strengthened and cooperation with countries outside the region is also important. Whether China will completely bring ASEAN into its sphere of influence or whether ASEAN will socialize China in its own way is determined by the strength of solidarity and autonomy. Local autonomy is determined by the solidarity of its members, their ability to cooperate and self-determine, and their interest in and solidarity with common tasks. Only when ASEAN's autonomy is strengthened will China respect the ASEAN-level cooperation framework and socialize in the direction desired by ASEAN and its East Asian neighbors. Therefore, for the future of ASEAN cooperation and regional integration, the political or economic bias toward China in some countries must be improved, and active cooperation and institutionalization of cooperation on common issues are important.