Emerging developments in ASEAN–China relations in regional production linkages

Abstract

The article presents changes in trade flows of added value between ASEAN and China in the years 1995–2020. The article aims to assess the intensity of value-added flows in trade links between ASEAN and China. The article tried to answer whether the ASEAN economies and China take part equally in global value chains (GVCs) and regional value chains (RVCs). The article uses input-output models from the ICIO OECD database. The study shows significant changes in value-added flows between ASEAN and China since 1995. Not only the geographical structure of China's partners in ASEAN has changed, but also the participation and relative position of individual ASEAN economies in GVCs and RVCs. Generally, the role of China is growing while ASEAN economies are losing their positions in upstream GVCs and RVCs. However, ASEAN economies participate more strongly in GVCs and RVCs than China.