No Opposition To China in Asean
Malaysia is developing the ECRL with the BRI in mind. The project is driven by Chinese investment, which is good for Malaysia. Will it connect Malaysia to China's BRI from Bangkok to China?
There are no real opposition to China and its relationship with the Asean nations. What there is however, is a lot of white noise and chatter on social media against China. This is coming from Washington and at times, from its allies in Asia.
In my intervention on a panel discussion on ASEAN summit 2023 with CGTN, I spoke of the need for Asean to unite and to find solutions on geopolitical issues.
Inevitably, the problems in the South China Sea, Taiwan straits and the return of China in the global supply chain was also on my mind.
I managed to talk more on the Asean's centrality. I mention PM Anwar Ibrahim's call to consolidate the Asean and for member countries to consolidate its centrality.
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My talk was more on the role RCEP will play in mending China-Asean ties. To me it is the game-changing role of the RCEP in the China-Asean relationship. I had no chance to speak on that. But I did not miss the chance to speak on the geopolitics between Asean and China.
China and ASEAN have a long history of cooperation and partnership in various fields, such as trade, investment, connectivity, public health, and culture. ASEAN is important to China because it is China’s largest trading partner and the second largest source of foreign direct investment1.
China is also interested in promoting the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement with ASEAN countries to enhance regional integration and development2. China also supports the principle of ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, which aim to maintain ASEAN’s leadership role and strategic autonomy in the region.
BRI and ASEAN
To me, China is more interested in the BRI and how to get more Asean nations to be involved in this project.
Malaysia is developing the ECRL with the BRI in mind. The project is driven by Chinese investment, which is good for Malaysia. Will it connect Malaysia to China's BRI from Bangkok to China? It is the dream that is being built around it that seems more important for some thinkers.
China is important to ASEAN because it is a major source of trade, investment, and development assistance for the region. China also provides support for ASEAN’s efforts to address COVID-19, such as contributing to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund and implementing the Program on Public Health Emergency Preparedness Capacity (PROMPT).
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China also cooperates with ASEAN on various regional issues, such as the South China Sea, climate change, and cybersecurity. However, China also poses some challenges to ASEAN, such as trade and investment competition, trade surplus, competition for dominance in economic cooperation, and the "China threat" theory.
Therefore, ASEAN needs to balance its relations with China and other major powers, such as the United States, Japan, and India.
But I will downplay these because there is no real opposition to China's investment and urge to develop the region. No real threat, no opposition. Only white noises from the West, particularly from Washingon. Now the white noises are also coming from the Pentagon,
CHINA-ASEAN: Historical Relations
China and ASEAN have a long history of cooperation and partnership in various fields, such as trade, investment, connectivity, public health, and culture. ASEAN is important to China because it is **China's largest trading partner** and the **second largest source of foreign direct investment**.
China is also interested in promoting the **Belt and Road Initiative** (BRI) and the **Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership** (RCEP) agreement with ASEAN countries to enhance regional integration and development. China also supports the principle of **ASEAN centrality** and the **ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific**, which aim to maintain ASEAN's leadership role and strategic autonomy in the region.
China is important to ASEAN because it is a major source of trade, investment, and development assistance for the region. China also provides support for ASEAN's efforts to address COVID-19, such as contributing to the **COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund** and implementing the **Program on Public Health Emergency Preparedness Capacity** (PROMPT).
China also cooperates with ASEAN on various regional issues, such as the South China Sea, climate change, and cybersecurity. However, China also poses some challenges to ASEAN, such as trade and investment competition, trade surplus, competition for dominance in economic cooperation, and the \"China threat\" theory.
Therefore, ASEAN needs to balance its relations with China and other major powers, such as the United States, Japan, and India.
RCEP Game Changer
RCEP: the free trade agreement among 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including China and 10 ASEAN countries. It is the world’s largest trading bloc, covering nearly a third of the global economy.
RCEP can be a game changer in the China-ASEAN relations because it will:
Eliminate a range of tariffs on imports within 20 years and establish common rules of origin for products.
Enhance trade and investment cooperation between China and ASEAN through the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and the Belt and Road Initiative.
Support the post-pandemic economic recovery and development of both sides2.
Promote regional integration and stability by respecting the principle of ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.
Create new opportunities for businesses, consumers, and workers in both China and ASEAN.
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