Respond To Policy Discussion On The Integration Process Of Asean And China

During the cold war era, under the strong political ideology competition of the two powers; the United States and the Soviet Union, the international environment in Southeast Asia has been unavoidable affected and become critical. Simultaneously, the influences and the expansion of Chinese communism toward the region had gradually increased the major threat of national security of Southeast Asian countries. Apart from these external threats, Southeast Asian countries had faced the internal territorial disputes and the increasing tensions. As a result, Southeast Asian countries had participated in Southeast Asia Treaty Organization or SEATO (1954); U.S-led system of anti-Communist military alliances. ASA (1961) and MAPHILINDO (1963) had been then initiated aiming to solve existing internal territorial disputes among members at that time. Due to an inadequate of mutual trust and understanding among members of ASA and MAPHILINDO, these regional organizations were eventually abolished. However, the trace of the formation of these regional organizations in Southeast Asia has showed the regional efforts and thier first step of the regional integration process.Since the establishment of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1967, 40- years experience of ASEAN integration deserves attention from researchers starting political cooperation then expanding to economic integration in the post cold war. ASEAN integration process has been stronger and made ASEAN to become an important regional organization, playing an active role in regional and international affairs. As one of the successful regional organizations, ASEAN cooperation in political, economic and socio-cultural aspects have been strengthened continuously and deepened in order to build ASEAN Community successfully in the year of 2015 which is the mian objective of their integration process.For China, to some extent, the integration process of ASEAN both directly and indirectly impacts China's foreign policy toward regional affairs. Responding to the ASEAN integration, with the difference ideology, China at first had pursued a hostile policy, but in the early of 70's changed it policy to be more friendly and more cooperative with ASEAN. The importance of China for ASEAN integration has been growing overtime. China nowsaday is an important facilitator and plays an active role in stimulating ASEAN integration process. Moreover, the friendly and closer cooperation between China and ASEAN would be a main pillar to enhance closer and successful cooperation in East Asia in the future.