The Analysis Of ASEAN's Policy On The South China Sea Issue

After the end of the Cold War,the South China Sea Issue has become a hot issue affecting the regional security situation due to the joint push of internal and external factors.ASEAN,as a regional integration organization in South-east Asia,has played an important role in the evolution of the regional security situation on the South China Sea Issue.Through the "group way" intervene in the South China Sea,and the "ASEAN way" as the basis for behavior,ASEAN has continuously strengthened internal consultation and communication with China among its member countries,pushed all parties to reach consensus,and made positive contributions to build a peaceful and stable regional environment.ASEAN's policy on the South China Sea has developed after the Cold War(1992-2002).Brunei,Indonesia,Malaysia,the Philippines,Singapore and Thailand signed ASEAN Declaration on the South China Sea in 1992,marking the formal formation of ASEAN policy towards the South China Sea.In the follow-up development,ASEAN has shown the characteristics of group intervention and making consensus on the South China Sea issue,and has continuously promoted the parties to reach a political consensus.ASEAN and China signed Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea(DOC)in 2002,which created positive conditions for the peaceful and permanent settlement of differences and disputes between the countries.Entering the new century(2002-present),ASEAN' policy on the South China Sea shows three new characteristics.First,the South China Sea Issue has multilateralized and been set as an important topic at multilateral regional security meetings and forums led by ASEAN.Second,ASEAN has encouraged the United States,Japan,India to intervene and strengthen policy interaction with them to balance regional structure of power.Third,the ASEAN countries has promoted negotiations with China,focusing on the concrete implementation of DOC and the formulation of Code of Conduct(COC).With the aggravation of the combat of big countries on the South China Sea issue,ASEAN's policy on the South China Sea not only affects the regional security situation,but also affects the construction of regional order by China.On one hand,through the construction of the ASEAN-China bilateral dialogue mechanism and the regional multilateral security mechanism,ASEAN continuously promotes cooperation and provides a good platform for China to strengthen the control of maritime differences with neighboring countries.But on the other hand,ASEAN continues to introduce extraterritorial countries to intervene the South China Sea issue,which seriously affects the effective implementation of China's thinking of "shelving differences and seeking joint development" in the South China Sea.In the face of the development trend of ASEANization and internationalization on the South China Sea issue,China should hold the idea and conform to the trend.In policy formulation,China could constantly strengthen the "two-track thinking" as the solution path to the South China Sea issue.In diplomatic practice,it is necessary to continuously push forward the consultations of COC,accomplished regional rules at an early date that satisfied regional parties and meet regional needs.