South China Sea Dispute

The recent tension in the China-US relationship over the $6-billion arms sale to Taiwan, or the meeting between the US President Barack Obama and Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama in spite of China's protest, are clear signs, which indicate that competitive aspects in the relationship between the two "ogres" are gaining ascendancy.

However, Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) should never use this card to solve existing problems such as the outstanding disputes in the South China Sea because it is a double bladed sword that could ultimately divide ASEAN member countries.

Effective Measures
To solve its own problems, typically the disputes in the South China Sea, the most effective measures, which ASEAN can employ in correlation with the US-China relations would include two essential points.

However, ASEAN should reinforce and strengthen its solidarity to promote the internal strength of the "whole bunch of chopsticks" as compared to each separate chopstick, both in dialogues and negotiations with the "ogres." The fact that ASEAN countries have ratified the ASEAN Charter is a good indication of confirming the hope to build a strong community of countries in the bloc.

Recent actions of member countries such as enhancing military strength through weapons procurement contracts and obtaining new materials and equipment even though are necessary, it should not be viewed as the main strategy for their external relations. The internal balance of power policy needs to be coordinated closely with a policy that draws and engages big countries in order to establish and protect the balance of power in the region.

Establishing Institutions, Legal Frameworks
Moreover, and perhaps more importantly, ASEAN should continue to establish institutions, legal frameworks with binding rules to identify and encourage the participation of "players" to reduce the possibility of uncontrollable conflicts. One of the hot spots that are causing concerns is the disputes in the South China Sea, which needs to be "managed" by a legal document that can bind more strongly than the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

In addition, another strategy that plays an important role in ASEAN engagement policy with the United States and China is to strengthen trade relations with investments in both countries. Trade and investments will be the connection line to link countries, and is the key factor to "pull back" the eager powers because all countries will pay the price if conflicts were to occur.
US-China Ties
The US-China relationship is indeed entering a challenging period, particularly when the international context is witnessing a relative "transfer of power" between these two power centers. As a regional organization in Southeast Asia, ASEAN can ultimately play the role in creating the playing field, influencing the game rules as well as encouraging "players" to participate.

Instead of taking advantage on the competition between China and the United States to serve short-term benefits, ASEAN will benefit much more in the terms of security, politics, trade, and investment, if it can promote unity and maximize the role as an "intermediary" between the two giants of the 21st century.

ASEAN To Play Intermediary Role in China-US Relations

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