The two-week Asia-Pacific trip of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi ended on 14 July 2022. Wang Yi visited Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia during his journey and then attended the secretariat meetings of the Foreign Ministers of the G20 countries in Indonesia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Wang Yi’s trip is a counterattack designed against the United States (US) strategy of turning the Southeast Asian region into an “anti-Chinese zone.” Beijing is reacting to the US attempt to create a “containment belt” against itself in Southeast Asia and is looking for ways to prevent it.
China is not only an attractive investment for the region’s countries in return for giving up their “anti-Chinese policies”; it also proposes to be a security guarantor for its strategic interests.
Wang Yi attended the ASEAN meeting in Jakarta on 11 July 2022, and in his speech at the meeting, he expressed his objections to the developments in the region clearly. Wang Yi made the following statement while addressing China’s neighbors:[1]
“Today, countries in the region, including ASEAN, are forced to choose sides under pressure. We must protect the region from geopolitical interests, not fall prey to the law of the jungle, and not allow the great powers to use us as chess pieces in their rivalries.”
At the “3rd Central Asia-China Foreign Ministers” meeting held in Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan, on 7 June 2022, the Chinese Foreign Minister expressed similar wishes. Because Wang Yi warned the Central Asian countries that they should not engage in geopolitical competition between the great powers and should not bow to and resist the pressures to side with the other side, China thinks that the USA wants to create problems for itself in Southeast Asia, as it does in Central Asia. It also reminds the countries of the region that they should not comply with the policies of the Washington administration.
Another essential statement in Jakarta was related to the Taiwan Issue. Wang Yi made the following statements in his explanation on the subject:[2]
“Maintaining stability on both sides of the Taiwan Strait is possible by adhering to the One China principle. When the One China principle is fully accepted, all sides of the Taiwan Strait will develop peacefully. But when the One China principle is challenged or sabotaged, dark clouds and even violent storms will cover the Taiwan Strait coast.”
Wang Yi argued that the United States was trying to play the Taiwan card to “undermine and constrain China’s development.” In addition, Wang Yi held talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the G20 meeting held in Bali on 8 July 2022. In these talks, he tried to show that Beijing was not ready to make concessions to Washington and, at the same time, accused him of carrying out a global campaign against China. Wang Yi told Blinken that the United States has a growing understanding of Sinophobia (anti-Chinese hostility). In addition, he stated that if the knowledge of the Chinese threat continues to be enlarged to this extent, the US policy towards China will come to a deadlock, and this will pave the way for a new Cold War.[3]
The Chinese Foreign Minister also conveyed to South Korea and India that the world’s leading regional powers are inevitably trying to be drawn into a new conflict and believes this is unacceptable because Beijing thinks that confrontations between the blocks, which are tried to be created by the great powers, should be avoided.
Another issue that China is concerned about is the US effort to include India in its containment strategy against it. The two countries communicate and interact within global dialogue platforms and security organizations such as BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). However, due to the border problem between China and India and India’s special relations with the USA, the Washington-New Delhi rapprochement increased; There is no significant development on the China-India line.
Wang Yi’s statements and diplomatic contacts during his trip to Asia indicate that Beijing is in a defensive position in the tension between East and West; however, it shows that this position will be insufficient for Beijing’s interests. Therefore, China believes it should follow a much more proactive policy against the US strategy.
On 4 July 2022, Wang Yi met with Myanmar Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin. During this visit, the parties agreed to accelerate the construction of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor. With the carrying of the abovementioned agreement, cross-border power grid agreements, smooth operation of the China-Myanmar oil and gas pipeline, and development of the level of bilateral trade and economic cooperation will be ensured. In addition, China plans to increase imports of high-quality agricultural products from Myanmar and expand financial collaboration between the two sides.[4]
Wang Yi’s next visit was to the Philippines, which has been under the US security umbrella since the Cold War era, from July 5-6, 2022. Wang Yi expressed his readiness to deepen practical cooperation with the Philippines to initiate a new “golden age” in bilateral relations. Meeting with Wang Yi, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos stated that China is not just a neighbor but also a “reliable partner and friend.” He also noted that the South China Sea issue should not be the main agenda item in bilateral relations and should not limit their cooperation. Philippines National Security Advisor Clarita Carlos expressed his support for the two countries’ initiative to build a bright future together for shared peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. He also emphasized that the Philippines is ready to expand its cooperation with China and resolve conflicts appropriately to foster mutual trust and friendship between the parties.[5]
The previous President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, tried to establish closer relations with Beijing during his six-year tenure; however, tensions over the South China Sea continued. The biggest problem has been the disputed maritime areas, and the attempts of Chinese ships toward the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone have created various problems. Wang Yi saw this problem and focused on developing cooperation between the two countries to solve the problem.
According to China, the Philippine Government will continue its friendly relationship and assist China’s effort to weaken US influence in Southeast Asia. Thus, China will support the Government of the Philippines. In return for China’s investments in agriculture, transportation, infrastructure, and energy sectors, the Philippine Government is expected further to develop its relations with China, including military relations.
On 6 July 2022, Wang Yi’s next stop was Thailand, and met with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-Ocha. Following Wang Yi’s talks with Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramatvinai, an agreement was reached to establish a trilateral “economic relations corridor” between China, Thailand, and Laos based on logistical links trade and investment.
It has been stated that the primary goal of the corridor project in question is to build an economically interconnected system so that the three countries can achieve further economic development. Within the scope of the project, it is planned to establish a 734-kilometer railway connection between the two countries.[6]
On 11 July 2022, Wang Yi met with Indonesian Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan as part of the China-Indonesia Cooperation Dialogue Mechanism. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi also attended the meeting. During the talks, the prospects for strengthening cooperation between China and Indonesia for food security, establishing supply chains, and recovering global economic development were discussed. At the meeting, it was stated that Indonesia and China agreed to intensify their efforts to develop the Belt-Road Project. Panjaitan has announced that it supports the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative led by Indonesia and China and is willing to participate in the projects actively.[7]
In this regard, Indonesia has a similar view to China. Unlike the USA and Japan, it favors the development of dialogue with China and an ASEAN-centered regional development. Indonesia sees that China is on the rise, and this situation is not a threat to itself but an opportunity. In this sense, Indonesia follows a policy similar to the multi-faceted foreign policy principle of Central Asian countries. It pursues the procedure of obtaining maximum economic benefits through partnerships and not falling under the influence of any great power.
On the other hand, Indonesia is trying to implement the concept of “Global Maritime Basis” against China’s Belt-Road ProjectThe concept of the “Global Maritime Pillar,” is an initiative put forward in 2014 that aims to transform the country into a global maritime power. The initiative aims to make Indonesia a maritime transport and logistics hub connecting the Pacific and Indian Oceans. In this context, Indonesia can be seen as an alternative to China’s project for the USA. Still, for Indonesia, neutrality is the most convenient strategy for maintaining the balance and relationship between the big centers.
Wang Yi, who visited Malaysia on 13 July 2022, met with his counterpart Saifuddin Abdullah.In addition, it was received by the Chinese Foreign Minister, Malaysian Ruler Abdullah II and Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
China and Malaysia agreed on issues such as taking the strategic partnership to a new dimension, development of transport and logistics lines in the context of the Belt-Road Project, China-Malaysia and Malaysia-Singapore railway and high-speed rail construction, China’s import of Malaysian agricultural products, and ensuring political consensus to ensure peace and stability in the region.[8]
As can be seen, China is trying to establish its sphere of influence in Southeast Asia. As it will be remembered, in May 2022, the Beijing administration attempted to make a new agreement with the countries of the region in the field of regional security and economy. The countries in the region generally viewed this agreement positively; however, some countries have expressed concerns about the content of the agreement. For this reason, these countries have decided to postpone signing the agreement. The agreement’s content covered a wide range of issues, from establishing a free trade zone between the countries of the region and China to sending humanitarian aid. Closer cooperation in the security field between China and Pacific countries is also mentioned. Under the agreement, Beijing offered to train local police and assist with compiling nautical charts and cybersecurity. In addition, China wanted to gain greater access to local mineral resources.[9]
As can be understood, the diplomatic rivalry between the USA and China is increasing in Southeast Asia. The region’s countries can choose between the two great powers’ proposals that suit them. China tells these states not to be a part of the competition so that the USA does not attract the region’s countries to its side and position themselves as opposing actors and tries to gain an advantage by making new proposals. For this reason, Beijing is not only economical but also looking for ways to improve cooperation in security.
[1] “Визит Ван И оккупировал Азию”, Kommersant, https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5459048, (Date of Accession: 13.07.2022).
[2] “МИД Китая предупредил о “свирепых бурях” над Тайваньским проливом”, Ria Novosti, https://ria.ru/amp/20220711/tayvan-1801801928.html, (Date of Accession: 13.07.2022).
[3] “МИД Китая призвал США «перестать клеветать» на Китай”, Kommersant, https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5457563, (Date of Accession: 13.07.2022).
[4] “Ван И провел переговоры с главой МИД Мьянмы Вунна Маунг Лвином”, russian.news.cn, http://russian.news.cn/20220704/b66228060fe441dca9d0b3cc21fbc37f/c.html, (Date of Accession: 13.07.2022).
[5] “Китай готов открыть новый “золотой век” в отношениях с Филиппинами — Ван И”, people.com.cn, http://russian.people.com.cn/n3/2022/0707/c31520-10120249.html, (Date of Accession: 13.07.2022).
[6] “Китай и Таиланд договорились сотрудничать по четырем направлениям-Ван И”, news.cn, https://russian.news.cn/20220706/d7b2a58ed57e440b92c8275ae5499e0b/c.html, (Date of Accession: 13.07.2022).
[7] “Президент Индонезии Дж. Видодо встретился с Ван И”, people.com.cn, http://russian.people.com.cn/n3/2022/0712/c31520-10121784.html, (Date of Accession: 14.07.2022).
[8] “Китай и Малайзия определят новые цели и приоритеты для вывода двусторонних отношений на новую ступень-Ван И”, people.com.cn, http://russian.people.com.cn/n3/2022/0713/c31520-10122682.html, (Date of Accession: 13.07.2022).
[9] “Китай и страны Тихого океана отложили подписание соглашения в сфере региональной безопасности и экономики – СМИ”, swissinfo.ch, https://l24.im/g9usWX, (Date of Accession: 13.07.2022).
