China’s military in ‘competition for partnerships’ with US in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is playing an ever-growing part in China’s investment and diplomatic decisions, particularly as Beijing’s rivalry with Washington heats up. In the final instalment of a four-part series on China’s ties with Asean, Hayley Wong looks at Beijing’s efforts to expand defence cooperation in the region.

China is looking to forge closer defence ties with its Southeast Asian neighbours as it engages in a “competition for partnerships” with the United States in the region.

It comes as tensions have been soaring in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, where run-ins between Chinese and Philippine coastguards have intensified near disputed islands.

In Southeast Asia, China has traditionally maintained more in-depth military relations with Cambodia and Laos. But this year it has sought to deepen ties with countries like Indonesia, Singapore and East Timor.

Song Zhongping, a military commentator and former People’s Liberation Army instructor, said Beijing saw a growing need to build political trust with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

He said the US was holding more joint exercises in the South China Sea targeting “island disputes and China”, and that it had “persuaded regional countries to get into confrontations” – a move he said was aimed at “slowing down” China’s development.