China and ASEAN: strategic partnership or competition over the South China Sea?

Abstract

This thesis talks about territorial dispute and sovereignty claims over the South China Sea (SCS). The major actors involved are China together with four of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states: the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei. First part of this paper offers an introduction to historical claims over the SCS. Furthermore, it analyzes the significance and major incidents that occurred in the SCS. Can China's military buildup endanger relations between China and ASEAN? Despite the countries' own interests, ASEAN as a whole has shown the most effort in solving the dispute peacefully by using multilateral discussions in pushing towards maritime regulations. In 2002, China settled in by signing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the SCS. The body of this paper focuses on the ASEAN--China relationship. It discusses ASEAN's approach in dealing with the dispute. It also talks about ASEAN's division within while tackling China as the major power in the SCS sovereignty resolution. ASEAN feels an urge to strengthen its ties with foreign allies, mainly the US and Japan, to counterbalance China's growing political and military power. Lastly, this thesis analyzes the current state of affairs in the SCS.