CHALLENGES IN CHINA-ASEAN RELATIONS
Basically, in any relationship either bilateral or multilateral relationship, there will be some crisis occur. It is depends on those party who involved in the crisis. In china – ASEAN relation, there is a big crisis come across and it gives big effect to the ASEAN region.
(a) South China Sea Waters Conflict
Basically, in the world map, the South China Sea Waters was estimated about 3.6 million kilometers square. In this conflict, the country that used to claim on it does not even care about the broadness of the Sparkly Island that is double of Java Island. Actually, the island is rich with the natural resources of oil which can change the state’s status to a wealthy nation.
In the first place, China claimed
This conflict occurs when the Republic of Philippine, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei tend to claim the island as theirs too.
There are many world observer was waiting for their solution and keep stressed the multilateral relation to settle down the hot conflicts. In fact, this issue generates tension for all party. The future solution will decide the level of relations of these state can cooperate.
In ASEAN summit on 23 to 24 April 2013, the chairman of the summit said that the issue of South China Sea can be solve through soft way. The soft way here refereed to the negotiation and peaceful method that is parallel to the international law. The international law applied in this issue was ratified by UN organization 1982 on The Law of The Sea (UNCLOS).
Basically, in solving this kind of conflicts, the law of the sea stated that the sovergnty of one state on its internal waters area or territorial sea, it is depends on its exclusive right to use the wealth. In this kind of issue, most of the Sparkly Island is govern by
This will lead to strengthen the relationship between China and ASEAN. The ASEAN + 3 relations basically lay down under economy agenda of China. China takes the brilliant action to give 15 million of US dollar to ASEAN organization to be distributed to the ASEAN country.
The prime minister of China, Wen Jiabao announced that kind of assistant in the ASEAN meeting with Japan and South Korea in Pattaya. But then, the meeting was failed to achieve its main purpose because of the differences between the leader of the nations, therefore the meeting had to be postponed to another date.
Actually, the new agreement that had to be ratified by ASEAN and China will create the biggest trade area in the world under the content of the free to trade. China also offered some donation or loan to those countries that need the money to grow. In another part, China will also invest in the potential countries to increase their income and climb up the world hierarchy.
Although there are some conflicts occur between those ASEAN countries, China still on their platform in making the ASEAN region wider and rich. China influence in ASEAN becomes wider, but then ASEAN countries still peg their economy to United States because the economy of United States is more stable and in control the world