China can meet 'Belt and Road' challenges
- By Wang Yinghui
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E-mail China Daily, July 23, 2015
Japan and India, too, are taking a lot of interest in the region. Japan has deepened its defense cooperation with the Philippines through a defense agreement and military drills. And India has been closely cooperating with Vietnam on arms sales and exploration and exploitation of oil and gas in the South China Sea. External powers' involvement in the region has intensified tensions, which could be counterproductive for the Belt and Road Initiative.
Given these challenges, China and ASEAN need to strengthen cooperation to promote the Belt and Road Initiative. First, the two sides should cooperate more closely on the security front to build mutual confidence. And to ease ASEAN members' suspicions and concerns, China should be more patient and frank with its security policy and take concrete measures to promote regional security. The two sides can also coordinate and cooperate on specific defense issues like strengthening military exchanges, and holding more joint training programs and drills.
Second, the two sides need to strengthen economic cooperation. China, on its part, should pay special attention to ASEAN members' demands and needs, and take measures to integrate its economic strategies with them on the principle of "jointly built" in order to allay fears over China dominating the projects. Also, it is important for Chinese enterprises to learn about and observe local investment policies and rules, and ensure the projects serve the interests of the local people by, for instance, spreading education and creating jobs.
Third, the South China Sea issue has to be properly handled. China and ASEAN can cooperate on maritime security under the "dual-track" approach. Maritime disputes can be negotiated through bilateral dialogues, while China and ASEAN can have multilateral maritime cooperation on issues such as resource development and protection, freedom of navigation, maritime research and rescue operations.
This being the Year of China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation, the two sides should seize the opportunity to develop the action plan for the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
The author is with the National Defense University of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
