China
Southeast Asian Elite Push Back Against a China-Dominated Regional Framework
A March 2023 survey of Southeast Asian elites reveals a preference for ASEAN leadership over China’s assertive influence, indicating reluctance to support a Sino-centric regional order despite China’s economic dominance.
Survey Insights on Southeast Asian Elites
A March 2023 survey of 500 elites from Southeast Asia indicates a strong reluctance to embrace a China-led regional order. While China exerts considerable economic influence, the surveyed elites favor ASEAN leadership and democratic values over Beijing’s hierarchical approach. China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea and its economic coercion practices have ultimately diminished its appeal and authority within the region.
Beijing’s ambitions, such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, aim to reshape Southeast Asia under a Sino-centric framework. Although China’s influence is expanding, particularly in the economic sector, previous studies have largely overlooked how regional actors perceive this effort to establish authority. The survey reveals that Southeast Asian elites do not recognize China as a legitimate leader and are hesitant to endorse a regional order dominated by Beijing.
The findings underscore the importance of geographical proximity and mutual interdependence in establishing a regional order. Respondents express a clear preference for ASEAN as a regional leader, ranking it above both China and the United States in influence. Despite notable Chinese economic clout, ASEAN’s perceived authority remains stronger, with most elites indicating a preference for its leadership over China’s regional ambitions.
Source : Southeast Asian elites resist a China-led regional order
