The East Asia Summit U.S. "security alliance" has caused uneasiness, and it has not forgotten to "contain China", diplomats: the lack of "economic factors" in the participation of the United States and the region has formed a gap with China

Source: Global Times

The 16th East Asia Summit held on the evening of the 27th has attracted much attention from international public opinion, and the participants include the leaders of the ten ASEAN countries and China, Russia, the United States, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and other countries. In addition to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery, Japan's NHK television station said that all parties will also have "heated discussions" on security issues, including the TRILATERAL security partnership "AUKUS" (AUKUS), activities in the South China Sea, the situation in Myanmar and other issues. During the ASEAN series of summits, the United States and its allies did not forget the idea of "jointly containing China", and while vigorously expressing their attention to ASEAN countries, they turned a corner to suggest that China's behavior "caused concern". However, what really upset some ASEAN leaders is the small circle of "Augustus" engaged in by the United States, Britain and Australia. According to Malaysia's "Star" 27 report, the country's Prime Minister Sabri said at the East Asia Summit that "Augustus" may bring about an arms race and exacerbate regional tensions. While the United States has added uncertainty to regional stability for its own self-interest, China has not. When attending the 24th ASEAN-China-Japan-ROK Leaders' (10+3) Meeting on the 27th, Premier Li Keqiang stressed that China is willing to work with all parties to jointly safeguard regional stability and promote world peace; jointly promote regional economic recovery and build a strong growth pole for the world economy.

Malaysia: "Augustus" raises concerns

On the afternoon of the 27th, Li Keqiang attended the 10+3 meeting by video, and Brunei Sultan Hassanal presided over the meeting. Li Keqiang said, "10+3 countries are connected by mountains and rivers, and their destinies are shared." Regarding cooperation among 10+3 countries, Li Keqiang put forward six suggestions: improve public health governance; deepen regional economic integration; strengthen east Asian industrial cooperation; promote the development of east Asian digital economy; stimulate the vitality of fiscal cooperation; and promote green and sustainable growth.

Leaders attending the meeting said that since the establishment of the 10+3 cooperation mechanism, it has played an important role in responding to the crisis and promoting the development of East Asia. Thanks to more than 10+3 years of close cooperation, countries in the region have acted quickly to fight the epidemic and work together to promote regional economic recovery and inclusive growth.

The East Asia Summit was held on the evening of the 27th. "The East Asia Summit will formulate measures to maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and find a way out for solving acute problems." Russian TASS news agency quoted Russian President Putin as saying on the 27th that the Asia-Pacific region "has become one of the most dynamic centers of political, commercial and investment activities in the world", and at the same time, the region is also facing multiple severe challenges. He reminded that after the expiration of the INF Treaty, a new round of arms race may occur in East Asia.

According to a press release released by the White House on the evening of the 27th, the East Asia Summit explored regional and international challenges, including the epidemic and the climate crisis. U.S. President Joe Biden said the U.S. would explore the establishment of an Indo-Pacific economic framework with partner countries and once again expressed concern that the rules-based international order was "threatened."

But what worries some ASEAN countries is the U.S. approach. Malaysian Prime Minister Sabri once again said at the East Asia Summit that "Augustus" could cause regional instability, especially in the South China Sea. He stressed that the South China Sea issue must be resolved in a peaceful and rational manner through dialogue and consultation.

What ASEAN really wants to hear is...

From the 26th to the 27th, the United States, Australia, Japan and other countries held video summits with ASEAN. The US "Institute of Foreign Affairs" website published an article on the 26th that the US president participated in the ASEAN summit again after 4 years, which is a "small victory" for the relations between the United States and ASEAN. Biden told the leaders of ASEAN countries on the 26th, "I hope you can hear directly from me that the United States attaches importance to relations with ASEAN" and "you can look forward to my appearance and lend you a helping hand."

Biden announced that he would invest $102 million in ASEAN for health, economy, education and other projects, which aroused external concern, and Australian Prime Minister Morrison also announced on the 27th that he would donate at least 10 million doses of new crown vaccine to ASEAN. "ASEAN is at the heart of the Indo-Pacific region, and we have supported it through words and deeds." He said. Later on the 27th, Australia and ASEAN announced a comprehensive strategic partnership. Australia said it would invest US$154 million in ASEAN countries for health, energy security, counter-terrorism and other projects.

Also on the 27th, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio held talks with the leaders of ASEAN countries. According to The Japan News Agency, Kishida said in his speech that he had made 19 visits to ASEAN during his tenure as foreign minister. He claimed that it would work with ASEAN countries to "work together to vigorously promote the realization of a 'free and open Indo-Pacific.'"

Speaking of the background of the Efforts by the United States and its allies to strengthen Ties with ASEAN countries, foreign media have continued to mention China, saying they want to work together to balance a growing influence. Kyodo News Agency said on the 27th that Kishida said that In response to the "challenge of the maritime order", Japan and ASEAN have "common" concerns. At the ASEAN-U.S. summit on the 26th, Biden mentioned a "shared regional vision" that "every country can succeed in a level playing field" and that "no matter how big or strong a country is, it can abide by the law." However, he did not directly mention China.

The U.S. Institute for Foreign Affairs believes that Biden did not emphasize the tense relationship between the United States and China at the ASEAN summit as a "wise" choice because the leaders of countries in the region are reluctant to publicly criticize China, and the ASEAN summit is not the right place to discuss these issues. Reuters quoted Murray Heber, an expert at the U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies, as saying that what ASEAN countries want to hear from Biden is how Washington will participate in trade, investment activities and infrastructure projects in the region, and whether the United States plans to increase vaccine supply.

According to a report by the Russian Satellite News Agency on the 27th, "China has set a model for how the United States and Japan can establish a partnership with ASEAN." During the ASEAN summit, the United States and Japan announced military exercises in the South China Sea, and the concept of a "free and open Indo-Pacific" as they called it has clearly been politicized. The increase in influence in Southeast Asia depends not on the number and scale of military exercises conducted in the region, but on the ability to cooperate and help the economic development of ASEAN countries. In this regard, the "upgraded version" of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area came into full effect two years ago, and the two sides will also focus on cooperation in new areas such as digital economy and green economy.

An Asian diplomat told Reuters that while ASEAN countries are deepening economic ties with China, the lack of "economic factors" in U.S. regional engagement has created a huge gap between the two.

Foreign media: Three concerns of ASEAN

Compared with China, what really disturbs ASEAN countries is "Okus". Morrison insisted on the 27th that "Augustus" has not changed Australia's "long-term and deep nuclear non-proliferation commitments." Biden said on the 26th that ASEAN is "crucial to the Indo-Pacific regional architecture" and said that Washington "strongly supports" ASEAN's "central position" and its Indo-Pacific vision.

"Nikkei Asian Review" said on the 27th that during the ASEAN series of summits, several ASEAN leaders once again expressed or hinted at their vigilance against "Augustus". On the 27th, Indonesian President Joko Widodo told Morrison that Jakarta was worried about the development of nuclear submarines by "Okus" and Australia, which could exacerbate regional competition. "We must commit to transforming a culture of conflict into a culture of peace and a trust deficit into strategic trust," he said. According to the Associated Press, Jokowi also said on the 27th that Indonesia does not want "power projection" in the region. Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on the 26th that ASEAN must jointly issue a clear and coordinated voice on its "central position".

Previously, a scholar said in an interview with the Global Times reporter that for ASEAN, which pursues a "nuclear-free region" and "central status", Australia's approach will undoubtedly break the regional balance.

Today, ASEAN's concerns are threefold, according to the Nikkei Asian Review: getting involved in future conflicts; being forced to take sides in great power competition, and losing "relevance" in addressing the most pressing challenges.

The Philippine government was previously regarded as a relative supporter of "Augustus" among ASEAN countries, but the Manila Communiqué said in an article titled "Duterte warned 'Augustus' at the ASEAN summit" on the 27th, saying that the Philippine president reminded on the 26th that a security agreement such as "Augustus" "cannot complicate the way we work to cooperate" and can only be used as a "supplement".

【Global Times Special Correspondent in Indonesia and Singapore Xu Wei Xin Bin Li Yang Liu Yupeng】

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