INTRODUCTION

Descriptions of the relationship between China and the ASEAN states range from one of inevitable hegemony1 to one of greater openness, comfort and cooperation.2 At first glance, these perspectives seem to reflect different points of emphasis. From a security standpoint, the effects of China's growing military and economic strength on the medium- and long-term stability and prosperity of the ASEAN states is seen as a cause for concern. Increased economic cooperation, however, is being institutionalized through the ASEAN+3 process as well as through multilateral and bilateral free trade agreements. These apparently diametrically opposed tendencies are not necessarily mutually exclusive as it is quite possible to look at the increasing “openness, comfort and cooperation” between China and ASEAN as part of an ASEAN policy of accommodation in the face of the inexorable growth of Chinese power. The reality behind it, however, is probably closer to somewhere in between. Relations between China and the ASEAN states are tinged with elements of both heightened cooperation and continuing unease.

From an ASEAN standpoint, the relationship with China is increasin gly becoming one of its most important strategic partnership particularly over the long term. The ASEAN states, individually and collectively, need to balance between the dichotomy of competition and cooperation. It is, however, not purely a matter of exploring and finding common interests with China that could be exploited. ASEAN has two other strategic relationships with other major partners which are both more long-standing and enduring. While ASEAN's relationship with China may develop into its most significant partnership over the long-term, its relationship with Japan and the United States are equally, if not more so, important in the present term. It is commonly perceived that ASEAN relations with Japan and the United States are part of a strategy of balancing the increasing power of China in the region. Doing so, however, reduces the importance of the evolving partnership between ASEAN and China, and attenuates the complexity of ASEAN relations with Japan and the United States to a mere strategy of balancing China.