Topic: ASEAN Relations with China under Peaceful Development Policy

Introduction
In recent years Chinese government manages a fruitful and prospering relationship
with ASEAN, which Professor Ong refers as a ‘win-win partnership’. But as
illustrated by The Economist in the March report on China, ‘China’s rise to
superpower status generates as much as fear as admiration.’ Scholars and
political leaders in the region concern how China will rise and the subsequent
impacts brought to her ASEAN neighbors. As Professor Zheng from University of
Nottingham had mentioned about China’s Peaceful Rise, since early 1990s there are
numerous policy papers arguing about the China threat theories and suggested the
need to contain and restrain the rising China. Similar views shared by Professor
Yahuda in carrying out the viewpoint that China’s participation in regional
political and security patterns of cooperation still remain uncertain , despite a
economic cooperation between both parties. He viewed the cooperative behavior
China demonstrates merely a requirement to create a peaceful environment for her
own stability and economic growth, instead of a real cooperation that ‘China
communist leaders come easily and naturally.’ Chinese government therefore came
up with the concept of ‘peaceful rise’, which later replaced by the terms
‘peaceful development’ to share the concept in which China could emerge as a world
power in a peaceful way and harm nobody.

In this paper, we will discuss briefly on the concept of peaceful development and
examines whether the policies and actions taken by China with her Southeast Asian
neighbors in previous years fulfilled the ideology. Lastly we would review some
potential 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 senior
officials in different occasion, sometimes in top Amercian schools, sometimes in
Politburo meetings, indeed it is a phrase first introduced by Zheng Bijian, former
Vice President of the Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party during
the Boao Forum for Asia in 2003. He stated ‘China’s peaceful rise is part of
Asia’s peaceful rise, … the modernization and reform processes and the rise of
China are directly linked to the experiences and development of other Asian
countries.’ And President Hu Jintao repeated to use the terms in several other
occasions like official visit to France, internal meetings and commemorative
function of Mao Zedong. It is a value, which represents China rise or
development as an opportunity instead of a threat. Later the term modified as
development as ‘rise’ evokes apprehension among Chinese neighbors and strategic
competitors. And following the guiding principles established by Deng Xiaoping,
“Observe developments soberly, maintain our position, meet challenges calmly, hide
our capacities and bide our time, remain free of ambition and never claim
leadership.”, even to later period Jiang Zemin’s “enhancing confidence, reducing
troubles, expanding cooperation and avoiding confrontation”, it is obvious that
China wish to implement a pragmatic foreign policy in establishing a defensive
instead of assertive foreign policy with reference to her wish to develop a
peaceful environment which benefits her development.

Early PRC – SEA relations

At the very beginning of the PRC ruling the new China, the relationship with
Southeast Asian nations was not that smooth and promising, mainly because of the
Chinese support to Burmese Communist Party, and the overseas Chinese viewed as an
extension of Chinese influence in the region. Only since the Bandung Asian-African
Conference where China made friends and influence with the regional neighbors by
the agreement of ‘Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence’, referring to mutual
respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-aggression, non-
interference in internal affairs of other countries, equality of status and mutual
benefit. Mutual trust and friendship started to develop, as Professor Stuart Fox
mentioned, ‘Relations with Indonesia warmed, trade expanded rapidly, ; personal
relations between U Nu of Burma and Zhou Enlai blossomed and lead to negotiations
on 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 from
China. Ironically, the formation of Association of Southeast Asian Nations at the
very beginning was a response to the growing communist threat. Indonesia
suspended diplomatic ties with China in October 1967 with the new anti-communist
Suharto military force came to power. PRC once considered ASEAN as ‘a tool of
American imperialists’ aiming at containing China and other communist power.
With a new cold war situation developed, Soviet Union and United States influence
began to grow in the Southeast Asia region, China started to reevaluate her
policies with fellow ASEAN nations. China began to develop friendly diplomatic
relations with several countries like Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines in
mid 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 door
policy and successful economic development in late 20th century, China developed a
closer relationship with ASEAN nations through trade and investment. With
Singapore and Brunei establishing diplomatic relationship with Beijing in 1990, it
started a new page in PRC-SEA relationship in modern times. Remarkably, China
became one of the ASEAN’s dialogue partners and a member of the ASEAN Regional
Forum (ARF) for the discussion of security in mid 1990s.

Series of Declarations and Treaties

By acceding into treaties and declaration perhaps is an important and significant
process to consolidate the relationship built between China and ASEAN. The
Declaration on the Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea in 2002 guided
the conduct of both parties in the area. In order to combat transnational crime
like terrorism, sea piracy, human trafficking and all sorts of non-traditional
security issues, ASEAN and China came with the Memorandum of Understanding in the
Field of Non-Traditional Security Issues. As Professor Ong stated, the milestone
achievement was China accession to ASEAN’s Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in
Southeast China. In addition to the Joint Declaration on the Strategic
Partnership for Peace and Prosperity, China apparently pay high level of respect
and positive response to ASEAN neighboring nations as partners and promote peace
and security in the region. Besides, the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive
Economic Cooperation targeted to make Free Trade Area possible in 2010 for ASEAN-
6, then 2015 for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV). All of these
declarations and treaties came along with the active participation of both parties
in engaging to the formation of a stronger political and economic partnership.
Also, it would provide a solid foundation for ASEAN and China to collaborate and
cooperate in regional security issues, economic advancement and solving the
disputed borders problem.

Good Neighborliness with ASEAN nations

ASEAN and China had shared common borders and have deep historical and cultural
linkages. Professor Zheng discussed this policy in depth in his discussion paper,
he stated between September and October 2003, Premier Wen, State Counselor and
Foreign Minister had stressed the importance of ‘friendliness and companionship to
neighbours through calming, enriching and befriending.’ During the early to mid
20th century, China had still several disputes over the borders with numerous
countries, while now almost all have been settled, with the exception of Spratly
Islands, islands with Japan and India in Himalayas. For the Spratly Islands
case, China had agreed a multilateral declaration over it by singing a declaration
on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. And acceding to the Treaty of
amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia showed China and countries in ASEAN are
stepping forward to some form of institutional consolidation. This approach
suggested by Herman would provide a ‘fulcrum for the relationship, building
confidence and eventually becoming bulwarks of an effective regional
architecture.’

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 a
dramatic 130.4 billion in 2005. As Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi had expressed
“China and ASEAN should team up…grasp opportunities, meet challenges and withstand
the fierce competition on a global basis.” And China had contributed
significantly in the Asian Financial Crisis in stabilizing the region. By US$1
billion financial assistance to Thailand, US4-6 billion for the IMF programmes to
support the whole Southeast Asia. And the important move in not devaluing the
currency Renminbi (or yuan) had strengthened up the confidence for her neighbors
in the region. It prevented another destructive devaluations of other Asian
currency which could have caused greater damage to the regional economy. And the
formation of China ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) in 2010 would foresee a tariff
elimination of over 7000 items. These economic gestures had certainly showed
China’s willingness to engage with the region and act as a responsible political,
economic and trading partner. As Zheng stated China will continue to make efforts
in maintaining good relations with ASEAN as a showcase to the world that China
could be a trusted partner and responsible player in the global order. ASEAN also
hoped China would continue this positive foreign policy in playing a strategic
role 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 relations
and regional cooperation by handling sensitive issues with surrounding countries
in a manner that is guided by the spirit of equality, respect, consultation and
mutual benefit.” It is foreseeable for a closer relationship between China and
ASEAN in coming years, not only in trade and investment, but also in political and
cultural realm.
Worries and Skepticism
China 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 the
recent rapid increase in military budget, unresolved political conflict with
Taiwan, internal anti-Japan sentiment, disagreement over the boundaries in East
China Sea and the internal economic inequalities and government corruption, China
itself is facing lots of suspicious and skepticism from her surrounding nations.
Argued by the Economist report on China recently, ASEAN would use America as a
balancing force with China, for instance, Singapore recently signed an agreement
allowing American forces greater access, Indonesia and America have resumed
bilateral military contacts, so does Vietnam wants to forge a strategic alliance
with the former enemy. Also, some political scientists are skeptical about the
real motivation behind China’s engagement in the region, arguably China primary
target is the energy resources. Recent Economist’s research on the Chinese aid to
Cambodia is a typical example,’ for China, oil shipping from Cambodia has
strategic value, for it would not have to pass through the American-guarded
Malacca Straits.’ Same arguments was expressed by Professor Glosny in worrying
the ACFTA may end up creating a colonial economic relationship as forcing ASEAN
nations into less profitable sectors for China to secure access to raw materials
such as oil, natural gas, rubber and tin.

Future Outlook
Everyone is paying attention on how a rising China could develop a peaceful
relationship with her surrounding neighbors. Michael Swain and Ashley Tellis argue
that China would pursue a ‘calculative strategy’ by promoting a market economy
to ensure rapid economic growth, avoiding the use of force while modernizing
military capacity and expand China’s political influence around the globe.
Therefore a closer economic cooperation with ASEAN is ensured, minor political
differences and border disputes could be set aside to maintain the good neighbor
policies. While for ASEAN, on one hand they would want China to invest more in the
region and behave well in political sense, they would also want United States to
remain a powerful presence as a balancing force.

The real solution

From political, security and economic perspective, it would be beneficial for both
ASEAN and China to further cooperate and develop strategic partnership in all
aspects. It would certainly bring mutual benefits and a win-win situation in
coming decades with reference to the success made in previous years. In order to
completely ease the situation of fear and charm offensive nature projected on
China by fellow ASEAN nations, China have to demonstrate more on her openness and
pluralism , no matter it is the military expense, economic policy, or even
political reform. Once trust and consensus build among China and fellow ASEAN
nations, then a rising China with peaceful development would be a golden
opportunity for the region to grasp and no longer to be viewed as a potential
threat.