| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立中山大學 === 大陸研究所 === 96 === “…commerce and manufactures gradually introduced order and good
government and with them, the liberty and security of individuals, among the
inhabitants of the country, who had before lived in a continual state of war
with their neighbors, and of servile dependency upon their superiors. This
though the least observe is by far the most important of all their effects.”
Adam Smith in his classic “Wealth of Nations” amply sets the tone of this
paper on China-ASEAN relations.
Significant domestic developments in individual Southeast Asian states have
brought about new political, economic and social challenges that necessarily impact
on the stability of the entire region. In general, Southeast Asia remains beset with
widening economic and social inequities, unresolved political conflicts as well as
growing ethnic tensions, compounded by threats of terrorism and other transnational
crimes. At the same time, however, Southeast Asian nations have moved toward
greater cooperation under the ASEAN. The researcher’s motivation for undertaking
this research topic is due to the fact that China-ASEAN economic relations is an area
of considerable yet remains poorly understood, it was very fitting for her to embark
into a study that will take a closer look of the evolving relations and implications to
the Philippines since the researcher is a citizen of the country which is an original
charter member of the ASEAN. The study was an assessment of the China-ASEAN
cooperation and its implications to the Philippines. The paper is preceded by a
hypothesis that—“The better the level of relationship is between China and the
ASEAN as a regional block, the better the chances for China and the Philippines to
enhance not only its traditional relationship in bilateral trade and investments, but also
the more contentious issue of amicably resolving the South China Sea conflict, more
specifically, the Kalayaan Group of Islands or Spratlys.”
The researcher used both descriptive and analytical approach for the study. The
three data sources of the study were document analyses, interview of key informants
and focused group discussions. The inputs were taken from the results of the
document analyses and the interview of key informants.
The China-ASEAN relations are characterized as economic cooperation at first
hand. Such relationship has evolved through the years from economic to other
non-traditional areas of cooperation like security and conflict resolutions. Joint
agreements are signed between ASEAN member states and China with regard to
increased trade and settlement of political issues and disputes. The Philippines as a
member state was able to optimize its gains in the China-ASEAN relations with the
increase in bilateral trade and investments. Undoubtedly the subsequent deepening of
engagement between China and the Philippines is mutually beneficial to the two
countries national interests.
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