Location: Taipei City – Taiwan, Canberra – Australia
Language: English
Duration: 00:07:55
Source: A24 subscribers
Restrictions: A24 clients
Dateline: 22/02/2021
Storyline
The G7 nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries have been increasing cooperation and drumming up international support on the South China Sea as the tension in the sea and the security concerns over military buildup prompt the two blocs to intensify meetings to address the issue. In a recent meeting between the two blocs, the G7 nations have declared a “shared interest in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region.” The G7 and the ASEAN bloc discussed the situation in the South China Sea and “concerns were expressed on the land reclamations, activities and serious incidents in the area, including damage to the marine environment, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security, and stability in the region.”
Dr. Sana Hashmi, a specialist on international relations, voiced doubts the meeting and efforts would yield any results. Hashmi said that the Southeast Asia countries are in the process of signing a memo with China on the issue of the South China Sea; however, it will not be binding, which brings to the fore the question of how useful it will be. She said the code of conduct should nevertheless be signed because it will have implications for the South China Sea. Dr. Alan Yang, a political analyst, said some Asian countries are influenced by China and pressured by trade ties with Beijing, adding that those countries would feel as if they have to jeopardize their territorial rights and sovereignty to keep the trade cooperation intact.
Shotslist
(Soundbite) Dr. Alan Yang, the Executive Director of TAEF:
“The PRC [Popular Republic of China] tries its best to set up the artificial island in the southern part of the South China Sea. And recently, not only did it set up this kind of artificial island but also, they have tried to put weapons on the islands. And this unilateral military projection has been regarded as a potential threat or even the existing threat to the stability and peace of this region.”
(Soundbite) Dr. Sana Hashmi, a researcher at Institute of International Relations, the National Chengchi University:
“I think they aren’t getting any results. This is one of the most prolonged disputes China isn’t negotiating, and we saw how the declaration of conduct talks could at least be signed. And now, the Southeast Asian countries are also trying to sign a code of conduct with China in the South China Sea, but that’s also going to be non-binding. But at least, it will have some implications for China and the South China Sea. So, I think that’s also a very important reason why ASEAN went for something like that. And if you look at countries such as Vietnam, and now even the Philippines, we have seen how under Duterte, the Philippines was inching closer towards China. But now, that’s also changing. And especially Vietnam, Vietnam has been trying to internationalize the issue of the South China Sea for a long time. So, I think it’s a part of their interest to internationalize the issue of the South China Sea to make countries, especially in the West, and countries such as Japan and India talk more about the issue of the South China Sea. So, when we talk about the results of this meeting, I don’t think we can expect much, but at least it happened, and I would say that was a landmark event.”
(Soundbite) Dr. Alan Yang, the Executive Director of TAEF:
“The Philippines, Vietnam, as well as other neighboring ASEAN counties also enjoy a high volume of trade and investment with China; endorsement from China. And for sure, they think sovereignty issues are at the top of their national interest priorities. But they will probably face the challenge or threat imposed by the Chinese government if they are not willing to, you know, give in their territorial rights.”
(Soundbite) Dr. Sana Hashmi, a researcher at Institute of International Relations, the National Chengchi University:
“ASEAN is divided on the issue of China, and also on the South China Sea. While countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines are trying to internationalize the issue, if you look at countries such as Cambodia and Laos, they are very friendly to China. China-friendly countries. They are pro-China. And also if you compare China’s approach and China’s response to Europe and Southeast Asia for example, you will see that China is responding in a very confrontational way to Europe than in Southeast Asia. Look at the example of Lithuania. China is going for economic coercion concerning Lithonia. But China is not going to do the same without Southeast Asian countries. First of all, they are regional countries, and China is the largest trading partner of ASEAN. So, we have to consider all these things as well when we talk about China’s response.”
(Soundbite) Hunter Marston, an academic at the Australian National University – Department of International Relations:
“In the last several years, China has blocked exports from Vietnam and the Philippines when it wants to show that it’s angry with these countries. I don’t know as much about its behavior with the Europeans, but the fact that the U.K. and others rely closely on China’s economy, I think there are many possible levers that China could apply to signal its displeasure. China has also made it very clear that it sees the UK’s increasing naval presence in the region, engaging in naval operations, carrier strike group visits the South China Sea along with the US and other countries as an object of great concern, and said they won’t allow it. Which again is impinging on freedom of navigation in international waters, which don’t belong to China.”
(Soundbite) Dr. Alan Yang, the Executive Director of TAEF:
“If you look at what the PRC did in the past decade, their strategy to their rivals is to divide and conquer. So, with their neighboring countries, with their strategy to ASEAN countries, they try to impose the divide and conquer strategy to ASEAN countries. So, that’s why the ASEAN organization, ASEAN secretary, or ASEAN members insist on the centrality and consolidation of the so-called ASEAN, as there is a main concern to unite the regional block. And I think Taiwan will not. We are aware of the divide and conquer strategy, and we will not follow this kind of threatening strategy.”
(Soundbite) Hunter Marston, an academic at the Australian National University – Department of International Relations:
“I think it’s just a starting point of a broader conversation that the G7 and ASEAN are starting to come closer together. And this reflects the larger trend in international relations of mini literalism and multilateralism, especially in reaction to some of the instability that the Trump administration in Washington caused around the world, where you can now see European allies in ASEAN countries start to step up and expressed their perspectives, especially in the Indo-Pacific and security challenges, as everybody now has an outlook on the Indo-Pacific. But the G7 is now chaired by Germany this year, which has a new government. So, it’s not clear to me that there’s a really clear vision in Germany regarding China, or if it has a foreign policy yet. So, I am interested to see if the continues have the momentum to build on this latest G7 meeting with ASEAN in the UK. I think that would be probably an encouraging trend to see closer alignment between the G7 countries, which includes Japan, a major player in the Indo-Pacific and a major investor and trading partner of these countries and ASEAN.”
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