Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
Abstract:
Since the Sulawesi quake and tsunami, ASEAN member states have agreed to
increase financial contributions to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief
(HADR) operations. However, an alternative framing of HADR is needed to draw
enterprises in bridging gaps.
Topic:
Natural Disasters, Private Sector, ASEAN, and Value Chains
Vasiliki Papatheologou, Rizwan Naseer, and Musarat Amin
Publication Date:
07-2014
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
South Asian Studies
Institution:
Department of Political Science, University of the Punjab
Abstract:
China’s involvement in Asian regionalization is a main axis of its foreign policy and a part
of China’s multilateral strategy which aims at increasing its regional role in Asia and
multilateralism in global arena. The engagement with the regional institutions such as
SAARC and ASEAN on the one hand facilitate China’s role as an effective player in the
peripheral politics and on the other hand, maximizes PRC’s strategic interest for further
regional integration. The article seeks to analyze the main elements of China’s engagement
with two Asian regional organizations, (SAARC and ASEAN). The comparative analysis
over China’s behavioral policies towards SAARC and ASEAN leads to the estimation that
China has the potential for leadership in Southeast Asia while in South Asia its “voice” is
still inaudible. The article argues that China’s engagement with SAARC compared to
ASEAN is limited due to the games of balance of power in the region of South Asia
deriving from the internal contradictions among the members (India-Pak relations), the low
level of regionalization in South Asia as well as due to the increased role of other great and
regional powers in the region of South Asia such as USA and India.