Opinion | China-India collaboration can put wind in the ASEAN sails
By Augustus K. Yeung
INTRODUCTION
In 1975, when I was a doctoral student, I lived in a co-op housing, sharing a room with a bright and humorous graduate engineering student from India. He told me a joke, "An American was boasting to the Indians about their cables and wired-webs; one Indian retorted, "We've more advanced technology. If you don't believe, dip underground; it's wireless."
Fifty years later, I heard another story of great Indian aspiration told by Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, foreign minister of India. "I was in New York visiting my son, we went to a restaurant, which demanded to see our vaccine passport. I showed him my mobile phone version. But the American waiter refused to accept it; my son produced his certified paper. And we were allowed in," Dr. Jaishankar's joke carried a thinly veiled air of contempt.
The U.S. is now pivoting to Asia-Pacific, threatening to draft more allies from the region into the American clique. Australia is actively trying to court India in the name of development of renewable energy or climate change. Listen to American envoy Rich Duke's recent speech in Australia, and you'll understand.
NOTICE JAISHANKAR'S SUBTLE SPEECH IN BANGKOK
If India successfully couples with the U.S., China and the Asia-Pacific region cannot have peaceful development; the U.S. will turn India into China's adversary. How horrible.
Fortunately, speaking in Bangkok on August 18, Jaishankar observed that relations with China were going through an "extremely difficult phase" amid a military stand-off along their shared border in Ladakh in the Himalayas.
He added that it would be difficult to realize the goal of an "Asian century" – if the two countries did not join hands!
Clearly, China must sincerely collaborate with a rising India: It will reduce the risk of conflict between these two Asian giants; besides, it will enhance bilateral relations. Together they will put wind in the ASEAN sails. Or more metaphorically, add wings to a roaring tiger, and the dream of an Asian century will be realized.
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF CHINA, INDIA AND ASEAN COLLABORATION
This virtuous triangle consisting of China, India and ten ASEAN (rich and poor) countries is an alignment of peace, a non-aggression pact, and an attempt to create an opportunity for the promotion of peace in the sea-lanes and landlocked areas.
This triangle is meant to provide functions that sustain developments of peace in the greater areas – be it on land, at sea and in the air – that rightfully belong to these sovereign countries. Comparatively speaking, it is meant to answer the PEACE call of Davos, Switzerland.
Why conceptualize and configure this virtuous triangle consisting of China, India, and ASEAN? Three reasons.
1. China as a rising nation in the region might come into conflict with its neighboring countries, notably India etc. This conflict, taking the border conflict as an example, is one that works against the interests of both countries; it hurts bilateral ties.
The value of this virtuous triangle is to create a structural reality so that China can exploit the opportunities this triangle creates, and work for mutual trust, taking the risks off the border, and confirming peace between China and India.
2. India, too, is a neglected rising economic power in the region, which has a long history of being exploited by the British colonial power, stealing its resources, weakening the country which is known for its cultural characteristics of peace, tranquility, and spirituality.
It is a great disappointment that border disputes took place between China and India, especially after the strenuous efforts repeatedly made by the two leaders, President Xi of China and Prime Minister Modi.
3. ASEAN situated in Asia-Pacific has caught the interest of the US to pivot to the Pacific. It will lead to competition, or even confrontation, which is undesirable for countries in the region and beyond. Some of these Asian countries, for example Vietnam and Japan, have territorial disputes with China, which can and must eventually resolve by peaceful means. American interference can only complicate the ways the disputes are peacefully resolved.
Indonesia and Singapore occupy a leading role: Singapore is already a model of good governance based on its emphasis on meritocracy; Indonesia is developing very rapidly in technology, trade etc. They are the strongest countries among the ASEAN members in the region. A ripple effect is to be expected, offering inspirations for the neighboring countries such as the Philippines, Thailand, and the landlocked countries such as Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia that need financial aids from the relatively well-off fellow ASEAN members such as China, India and Indonesia, or Singapore.
CONCLUSION
Max Baucus, a seasoned US ex-envoy cautioned that US-China relations are at a "tipping point", with the two powers on the brink of a technological and cultural cold war. The former Washington ambassador to China had warned recently.
This virtuous triangle serves as a structure, the positive functions of which will pivot the members cordially closer together through frequent contact, better communication, promoting understanding and mutual respect, fostering ties that bind.
Naturally, trade will increase among these countries. The region will be economically prosperous, socially affluent, and culturally colorful and diversified.
With this bloc rising, the focal point of the world will be on ASEAN.
Summarily, focusing on this virtuous triangle, therefore, the tendency that leads to future military conflict is attenuated, averted, or avoided.
Why bring in India?
As Japan has a deep-seated fear of China, the sense of animosity between these two countries cannot be easily resolved unless India is genuinely brought into the picture, which will enhance the transparency of this alliance, with China and India as core members.
This virtuous triangle will turn out to be a golden triangle, making the countries and the people in this region wealthy and peaceful, generating conditions for great multicultural developments that tend to turn the old poor Asia around, eventually leading to a colorful Asian culture – with wealth, hospitality, peace as striking features.
The author is a freelance writer; formerly Adjunct Lecturer, taught MBA Philosophy of Management, and International Strategy, and online columnist of 3-D Corner (HKU SPACE), University of Hong Kong.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.
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