China’s Asean engagement boils down to economic development, former officials in Southeast Asia say
- China’s Belt and Road Initiative remains a key means to bolstering connectivity, trade and investment with the regional trade bloc via infrastructure projects
- Sticking together seen as ‘the only way to survive’, as the bargaining power of a single Asean country is relatively weak
China and the Asean bloc that comprises its biggest trade partner should steel themselves for even greater economic cooperation while guarding against any attempts to politicise economic issues as they engage in mutually beneficial projects, according to former officials in Southeast Asia.
In separate interviews with the Post, Sihasak Phuangketkeow – the former permanent secretary of Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs – and Harry Roque – the former spokesman of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte – discussed the current situation.
Their comments come as China is marking the 10th anniversary of its Belt and Road Initiative – a global trade effort to link economies into a China-centred trading network. And the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) remains crucial to that effort.
The belt and road strategy is “complementing” Asean’s “massive plan of connectivity” and “expanding links with China”, according to Phuangketkeow, while infrastructure leads to connectivity, trade and investment that can foster integration when countries are faced with security issues.
China’s shipments to Asean nations soared by 35.43 per cent in March, year on year.
“Everybody knows that we have geopolitical competition, and our region seems to be more intense,” he added, explaining that sticking together is “the only way to survive” because the bargaining power of a single country in Asean is “weak”.
