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Astring of diplomatic activities recently arranged by China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have shown that China's good-neighbourly relationship with the regional bloc has entered a new stage.
On October 8, leaders of China and ASEAN countries jointly attended the signing ceremony of China's entry into the Treaty of Amity and Co-operation in Southeast Asia (TAC). They also signed the joint declaration on the establishment of a strategic partnership for peace and prosperity between China and ASEAN.
This meant China was the first major power outside Southeast Asia to join the treaty and it also marked the first time a strategic partnership had been forged with a regional organization.
Additionally, a supplementary protocol on China-ASEAN comprehensive economic co-operation was signed.
Undoubtedly, all these actions taken by China were significant moves to implement its long-held diplomatic philosophy of setting up solid relations with neighbouring countries and presenting itself as a responsible power.
The diplomatic moves will contribute significantly to regional peace, stability and prosperity.
East Asian integration has been an irreversible trend favoured by all countries in the region. It is also a prerequisite to maintaining regional stability and success.
In the early 1990s, ASEAN put forward the plan of establishing a regional organization in East Asia and has ever since made continual efforts to achieve that goal.
The establishment of such a group has also been one of China's long-term strategic goals. Thus, China has adopted an active attitude toward this issue.
However, Japan - as an influential country in East Asia - has not shown such warm-heartedness in regard to regional co-operation.
China has been in contact with Japan on many occasions expecting a larger role from Tokyo in regional co-operation, but to little avail.
China has worked with ASEAN countries to create an irreversible integration process in East Asia to stimulate participation by the Japanese.
Japan, as expected, has been spurred to be more active by China's diplomatic activities with ASEAN, such as the signing of an agreement to establish a China-ASEAN free trade area and the declaration on the conduct of parties in the South China Sea.
While the proposal on the establishment of the free trade area within 10 years was put forward, the Japanese public, which was concerned that Japan would be marginalized in the process and lose its leading role in East Asia, made mounting appeals for its government to co-operate with China to promote regional integration.
It is expected that China's formal conclusion of the TAC will bring about similar effects in Japan. Affected by public opinion, there is a strong possibility it will become another major non-Southeast Asian country to join the treaty, following China's example.
The result, if it takes place, would be another step in the right direction for East Asian integration.
It is incumbent upon China to promote trust and dispel misgivings in the region.
To this end, China should first help ASEAN countries understand its sincerity to develop friendly and co-operative relations with them. It has so far done very well in this respect.
China's superior performance during the 1997 Southeast Asian economic crisis and its optimism toward the free trade area have won it a lot of respect within the ASEAN bloc.
Also, China should openly undertake legal obligations by signing legally binding treaties and agreements with ASEAN. It has made great efforts toward these goals in the past two years.
The conclusion of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea between China and ASEAN countries last year has successfully put aside the long-standing disputes over the ownership of some of the islands in the region and paved the way for co-operation in exploring the region.
China's entry into the TAC will inevitably win it more trust from ASEAN countries. In addition, China has also given its support to the ASEAN-advocated proposal for a nuclear-free Southeast Asia, and has indicated it will immediately sign such an agreement with the group once conflicts within the region are eliminated.
By putting itself under the restraints of relevant treaties, China, as a major force, has shown its determination not to pursue a superpower status. Constructing strategic partnerships with ASEAN has shown China's respect and support for the bloc.
China's efforts to push for East Asian integration and the establishment of a regional organization does not mean it is attempting to belittle, exclude, or even engulf ASEAN.
On the contrary, it will continue supporting the integration of the group and back its development.
At the same time, such a strategic partnership with China will also make ASEAN countries believe that China will accept and respect an overall ASEAN bloc and will not sow discord between its members.
China's rapid pace in involving itself with world and regional economic and political mechanisms, and its efforts to seek a win-win settlement of disputes with neighbouring countries, have presented to the world both as a responsible and confident power.
The author is a professor at the School of International Studies at Peking University.
(China Daily October 14, 2003)
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