Mô tả
The author is Associate Professor at the Department of Political Science, University of Aarhus, Denmark
This article argues that an assessment of ASEAN’s ability to maintain a common stand on the South China Sea issues depends on the level of diplomatic integration associated with unity. When the focus is on issues of cooperation outside the political framework necessary for regional peace and stability, ASEAN is an entity marked by internal disagreement. Issues of cooperation concern common security provisions, such as alliances, formal conflict resolution mechanisms and common obligations towards the security problems of individual member-states. Judged by these standards, ASEAN has never been a successful diplomatic community. During the Cold War, only the Philippines and Thailand became US allies; ASEAN refused to accept responsibility for conflict resolution; and a variety of subregional agreements and security arrangements with internal and external powers were encouraged. The tolerance for multiple values and interests among ASEAN’s members has been maintained after the Cold War, as reflected in the variety of positions on the South China Sea. Hence the prevalence of internal disagreement on the desirable level of US and Chinese regional engagement, the purpose of the South China Sea dialogue and the scope of a regional code of conduct.
