| The salient characteristic of Southeast Asian diplomacy in the post Cold War Era is the marked increase and variation of multilateral associated contacts, both among the states in the region and with other Asian and non-Asian actors. This increase in activity includes a new enthusiasm for security issues, an interest motivated in large part, though not exclusively, by the increasing regional presence of the People's Republic of China. This presence takes its most tangible form in attempts by that nation to dominate the South China Sea, an area vital to the states of Southeast Asia. Some commentators have questioned the ability of the region's institutions to yield substantive results. Observers have also pondered the as yet undefined role of the United States in this conflict. This study addresses significant cooperative endeavors involving several Southeast Asian nations as these are relevant to securing their interests in the face of Chinese advances and U.S. ambivalence. The study also evaluates the effectiveness of the region's embryonic institutions. |
