Discourse And International Relations

Because the Southeast Asian countries faced diverse problems in different periods, with regard to the same issue of the rise of China, the Southeast Asian countries had distinct articulates in different periods. A discourse is a way of talking about and understanding the world. Discourse analysis, a way of critical analysis based on social constructivism, which takes way of deconstructing the structure that is hidden in the naturalized knowledge and power oriented. On the national identity issue, before 1990s, the Southeast Asian countries had regarded maintaining their own sovereignty as the major task and had been sensitive to the national identity, and their articulates had been furious. After 1990s, because of the social stability of the Southeast Asian countries, their articulates became moderate. About the South China Sea Dispute, the Southeast Asian countries had asserted their own sovereignty of the South China Sea before 1990s. Then the Southeast Asian countries believed "Putting aside disputes and jointly exploiting" and turned conflicts into cooperation. Before 1990s, on account of Singapore's fear to represent the "Third China", Singapore had dealt with the ethnic Chinese issue discreetly. After the cold war, the Southeast Asian countries established cordial relationships with China one after another. The ethnic Chinese issue became easing, however, the economic issue became emerging. Indonesia had the prejudice towards the ethnic Chinese deeply, official discourses evolvement of Indonesia experienced the process which were from anti-Chinese sentiment to easing up.