Security vs economics: Asean countries stuck between US and China in South China Sea row

Small countries in Southeast Asia face a delicate diplomatic balancing act as China and the United States seek their support ahead of an international court ruling on the South China Sea disputes.

Beijing and Washington are intensifying diplomatic, economic and security engagement with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which does not have a unified stance on the disputes, in an effort to win them over.

Observers say that despite being offered sweeteners such as infrastructure projects most member states have been reluctant to take sides.

“If relations continue to worsen between the two major powers, Asean countries will face a dilemma as it is important for them to maintain good relations with both Beijing and Washington,” Lee Ying Hui, a maritime security expert at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, said. Asean members had to consider two factors: their security relationship with the US, and their economic ties with China, she said.

Asean has shown signs of wanting to engage more players in the region. It invited China and the US to take part in a recent maritime exercise in the South China Sea involving 18 countries.

“The Asean countries do not want to take sides ... This is why they invited both countries for the exercise, to show that they are impartial, while using the drill to show unity as a bloc,” Yue Gang, a retired PLA colonel, said.