Southeast Asia's Response to The Us-China Rivalry: A Study of Regional Institutions and Initiatives

Abstract

The growing competition between the United States and China is of great significance for Southeast Asia, turning the region into the space of superpowers’ confrontation. Due to this geopolitical tension, the Association of South East Asian States (ASEAN) and South East Asian’s countries have forged several regional intergovernmental organisations and other measures that help the formation of economic communities to increase their security and to maintain the strategic balance. In this paper, these efforts shall be critically discussed and analyzed with regards to their ability to inhibit the negative effects of the US-China rivalry on the area of concern with special emphasis on stability and growth. This analysis is based on the important regional organizations as the ASEAN, the RCEP, and the ASEAN Defense Ministers ‘Meeting Plus or the ADMM+. Also, the study explores extraordinary measures such as the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity as well as the Initiative for ASEAN Integration. Through their analyses, the research evaluates these frameworks’ purposes in building up Southeast Asia and contributing to the establishment of a common regional front. This paper employs both quantitative and qualitative research approaches for an all-round assessment of these regional endeavours’ contribution to economic resilience and collective security within great power competition. The analysis presented in the paper highlights the advantages and weakness of Southeast Asian approach towards the US china competition. On the positive side, organisations like the ASEAN and effort like the MPAC have played key roles of driving economic integration and infrastructural integration to complement the regional integration. However, as for the limitation of the study, the research also finds out the impact of different national interests and external dependence as the barriers for the integrated implementation of these regional strategies. Thus, these institutions and initiatives call for a stronger regional solidarity as well as the improvement of their operational performance. In the final policy implications, the research calls for enhanced cooperation and analyzed diversification for a better streamlined and stronger Southeast Asia to effectively deal with uncertainties emanating from great power contestation.

Keywords: Southeast Asia, US-PRC Rivalry, Regional Structures, Policy Implications, Regional Solidarity