China-ASEAN Economic Relations: Retrospect and Prospect

张淇绰(Kee-Cheok Cheong)

《Malaysian Journal of Chinese Studies》 10卷1期 (2021/06) Pp. 15-26

https://doi.org/10.6993/MJCS.202106_10(1).0002

摘要

China's and ASEAN's relationship goes all the way to the latter's formation in 1967, unfortunately on opposite sides of the Cold War. China itself was domestically focused and had little interest in Asian regionalism. But a series of political developments brought about warming relations between the parties. The last decade of the 20th century saw China participate in the ASEAN Summit and become ASEAN's dialogue partner. Economic ties also blossomed, with China launching the China ASEAN Free Trade Area. Within a decade, China would become ASEAN's top trading partner. But ASEAN is of value to China beyond economics. First it needs a friendly southern neighbour. And as a latecomer to Asian regionalism, China is happy to settle for ASEAN centrality. With the US-China trade war still unresolved, ASEAN will be unwilling to take sides. However, far from ＂decoupling,＂ ASEAN will be drawn further into China's economic embrace.

關鍵字

China ； ASEAN ； regionalism ； centrality ； liberalisation