Opinion | For China, Asean is far more important than a mere ‘talking shop’
- Economically, politically and strategically, the Southeast Asian bloc has provided China a valuable seat at the table of regional diplomacy since becoming dialogue partners in 1996 ... but they’ve had their ups and downs
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is important to China. This is a statement of fact, not out of courtesy or preference.
Back in 2016, the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Asean-China dialogue relations was so low key that it barely featured in either side’s media. In 2018, upon the 15th anniversary of the Asean-China strategic partnership, their joint announcement of a 2030 partnership vision showed how keen diplomatic establishments on both sides were to inject new momentum.
China’s links to Asean informally began when then foreign minister Qian Qichen joined a meeting of Asean foreign ministers in July 1991 ostensibly as a special guest of Malaysia’s government. If that first step was of a tentative nature, then the official formation of the Dialogue Partnership with Asean in 1996 was a milestone for China. After all, China changed its official characterisation of its geographical neighbourhood in the early 1990s from “surrounding” to “neighbouring”, signalling its desire for acceptance as a partner.
