ASEAN states’ responses to China-driven regional cooperation initiatives: the BRI and the CSD revisited

ABSTRACTThis research contributes to an understanding of the ‘intertwined destiny’ of China’s twin initiatives, the BRI and the CSD. We find that the security implications of the twin initiatives drive different patterns of responses among ASEAN states. The dynamism emanates from diversifying preferences of ASEAN states amid complex interdependence. The BRI does a better job of projecting China’s material and soft power, as it aligns closely with ASEAN states’ comprehensive national interests. The CSD fares less well because it seeks to impose Beijing’s hegemonic claims on the SCS, thereby posing a security challenge to claimant states in the region. The nuances suggest that the charm of the BRI cannot be readily converted into a passport for the CSD. For some ASEAN states, power asymmetry inherent in their relations with China requires a security commitment from this giant northern neighbour, which Beijing is still reluctant to provide.KEYWORDS: ASEANChinabelt and road initiativea shared future for mankinda community of shared destinyXi Jinping diplomacySouth China Sea disputes AcknowledgmentThe authors express gratitude to Rose Yahui GU for data collection assistance. She worked at International SOS (Singapore, Headquarters) as a security risk specialist, in APAC between 2019–2021, and continues to provide advice afterward.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationFundingThis work was supported by Guangzhou University: [Grant Number 2900603999; 69-6209190].Notes on contributorsWang JieWang Jie is an Assistant Professor at the Public Administration School, Guangzhou University, China. Postal address: 230 Wai Huan Xi Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006 China; e-mail: wangjie@u.nus.edu. She received Ph.D. from the Department of Political Science, National University of Singapore. She is a research associate at the Institute of Rural Revitalization GZHU (Guangzhou daxue xiangcun zhenxing yanjiu yuan).Liang CeLiang Ce received Ph.D. from the Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge. She was a Research Associate at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy between 2016 and 2017. Email: cl714@cantab.ac.uk