CHINA'S APPROACH TOWARDS REGIONAL PROCESSES IN ASIA

Abstract

THIS STUDY IS UNDERTAKEN TO UNDERSTAND WHY CHINA ADOPTS DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF DIFFERENT REGIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN ASIA. AN EXPLANATION WITH TWO CAUSES IS PROPOSED TO ACCOUNT FOR SUCH VARIATIONS. THEY INCLUDE THE CONVERGENT INTERESTS BETWEEN CHINA AND OTHER MAJOR MEMBERS OF THE FRAMEWORKS AS WELL AS CHINA?S RELATIVE INFLUENCE THERE. THE CASE STUDY METHOD IS EMPLOYED TO EXAMINE THE PLAUSIBILITY OF THE PROPOSED EXPLANATION VIS-A-VIS TWO ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS. FOLLOWING THE DIVERSE-CASE METHOD, THE PLAUSIBILITY OF THE PROPOSED EXPLANATION IS EVALUATED BY ANALYZING CHINA?S APPROACHES TO INSTITUTIONALIZING FOUR REGIONAL FRAMEWORKS, NAMELY (1) THE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM; (2) THE SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION; (3) ASEAN PLUS THREE; AND (4) TRILATERAL COOPERATION. EVIDENCE FROM THE FOUR CASE STUDIES PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED EXPLANATION.