The relations between China and the United States are one of the most critical concerns for both policymakers and scholars because of their importance as the deciding factor in the stability of the new world. Although it has been relatively weakened, the superpower position of the United States still continues to have an impact on the economy, politics, and military affairs of the world.
Meanwhile, the recent rise of China had and will continue to have a significant impact on other countries, particularly those in the region, including Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries.
Cooperation and Competition
The relations between China and the United States have always have both cooperation and competition characteristics. However, the recent progress in the relationship has indicated that the two competing power centers for the world's order in the 21st century have had the tendency to trespass each other.
The competition has been manifested via a series of problems yet to be solved. For example, economically, the United States has protested against China for maintaining the exchange rate of the yuan so low that the trade balance is now leaned toward China, and the United States has also criticized China on copyright protection issues and quality control of goods products.
Politics and Military Affairs
In areas of politics and military affairs there are problems such as nuclear issues in North Korea and Iran, the aircraft crash on Hainan Island in 2001, the encounter between Chinese ships and the US Navy Impeccable on the South China Sea, and China's enhanced military capability. There are also other problems in the areas of human rights and freedom of speech, including Internet websites censorship.
The questions faced by ASEAN member countries are what should they do and how should they react in the current context, so that they can secure their maximum benefits.
First, it needs to be affirmed that ASEAN is not yet the power center of the world. It is only a "player" on the political map of the world and region. The role of ASEAN as a "player" in the region is most clearly expressed not on military or economic aspects, but whether this organization can "guide" the powerful "ogres" such as the United States, China, and Japan to accept the codes of conduct, and the legal framework for the common game in Asia, particularly in the Southeast Asian region.
The fact that China has signed the joint declaration between ASEAN and China on the conduct of all parties on the South China Sea, or the fact the United States participated in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in South East Asia after multiple delays, had proven the influence of ASEAN in the role of "engaging" the "big players" in the game on its own terms. Through this technique, ASEAN had put in efforts to ensure security and stability in the region, and helped member countries to focus on developing their economy and society.
Important Investors in ASEAN
It is obvious that the two-horse race between the United States and China will directly affect ASEAN member countries because both are important partners, or more correctly, primary partners in this organization. Economically, the United States and China are major trading partners, and important investors in ASEAN member countries.
In terms of politics and military affairs, both the United States and China have partners and allies in South East Asia. Therefore, any "problem" in the US-China relationship, if escalated to a military conflict (although the possibility is not high), would cause direct damage to ASEAN member countries. In that case, ASEAN cannot be in the "third-party benefit" position, but there
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