ASEAN'S CENTRALITY IN MANAGING CONFLICT OF CLAIMS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

Abstract

ASEAN’s centrality has been the most strategic position for managing potential conflicts and building regional security order in the South China Sea. ASEAN’s centrality is of importance for managing regional major powers, such as the United States and China, in building regional security architecture. Territorial disputes in the South China Sea have escalated tensions and possible military confrontation between rival claimant states, particularly between China and Vietnam, and China and the Philippines. Other ASEAN’s member states involved in the dispute are Brunei and Malaysia. This paper seeks to analyze how ASEAN has sought to manage its relationship towards the US and China as a strategic path in resolving the South China Sea dispute. This paper proposes soft balancing strategy which involves various efforts of persuading the US to act as counterweights to China’s influence in the region. This soft balancing strategy is appropriate with several issues that ASEAN should deal with managing potential conflicts in South China Sea.