The Fading and Reactivation of Asian Regional Cooperation Discourse

Entering the third decade of the 21st century,Asian regional cooperation1 is standing at a new starting point.Internally,regional cooperation has reached a plateau,which requires regional countries to make necessary policy adjustments and show greater political wisdom and resolve.2 In a wider context,regional cooperation is disturbed by several factors,including changes in regional political and economic structures,the Indo-Pacific strategy pursued by major powers,the deterioration of China-US relations and the swing mindset of small and medium-sized countries in the region.Meanwhile,new demands for cooperation from regional countries have been constantly emerging as the severe consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic,ecological degradation and climate change appear,and regional hotspots are coupled with non-traditional security threats.In this critical period of transition,Asia faces dual tensions created by the fading of cooperation discourse and the increase of cooperation demands.This article will analyze the causes behind the fading of Asian regional cooperation discourse as well as the new forms of regional cooperation under the dual tension,and explore the potential choices and approaches for China to reactivate Asian regional cooperation.

China's renewed perception of global environmental governance

China's idea of a community of a shared future for humanity(CSFH)has become the guiding principle and norm to be further embedded and integrated into the country's approach to environmental governance.Under the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals,China strongly emphasizes the implementation of its national strategy to mitigate the global climate crisis,and construct international environmental institutions by advocating fair cooperation resulting in mutual gain.China's role as a responsible major country is expected to be more proactive in international process.In particular,the concept of CSFH exerts positive,far-reaching impacts on the greening of the Belt and Road Initiative and the construction of solid South-South relations.Based on the renewed perception,China shall undertake its responsibilities in the reform of the global environmental governance system by leading multilateralism to strengthen the capacity of relevant international institutions such as the UN.Driven by China's political will,this concept reflects China's more confident attitude toward global environmental governance.Most profoundly,mainstreaming the vision of CSFH will elevate China's role to a new level in the coming years in terms of norm creation in international environmental institutions.

ASEAN’s Perception of and Response to China-US Competition

As the most dynamic and successful regional organization,ASEAN plays a unique role in the China-US competition.Despite the limitations of the ASEAN-led series of mechanisms and the“ASEAN way”of decision-making that features a consensus-driven and non-confrontational model,in recent years it has taken the initiative and responded positively and cautiously in managing relations with China and the US as the intensifying competition between the two major powers severely squeezes its political space.The policy choices of ASEAN will not only directly affect its relations with China and the US,but will also impact the China-US relationship.For China,understanding ASEAN’s perception of,and response to,Sino-US competition can help it better understand ASEAN.It can also enhance the level of China’s cooperation with ASEAN,and will be of great practical significance in managing Sino-US competition in Southeast Asia and in stabilizing its neighborhood.

India’s Perception of and Response to China-US Competition

The strategic rivalry between China and the US is becoming a new determining factor for the current shifts in the international system.China should get a comprehensive assessment of how other countries perceive this competition,and what stance they are taking while coping with the overall pressure from the United States.India is an important neighbor of China and a rising regional power.While the US intensifies its rivalry with China,it also continues to court India,which has consequentially increased its significance and status in the geostrategic outlook.

The Belt and Road Initiative and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development:seeking linkages for global environmental governance

Global environmental cooperation serves as an important part in the Chinese ideal of building a Community with a Shared Future for all Human Beings. The report of 19 th CPC National Congress indicates that China is committed to proactive mitigation under the Paris Agreement and further participating in global environmental governance under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and both of which are largely integrated to the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI). BRI are also closely linked with South-South environmental and climate cooperation proposed by China from previous UN summits. Based on shared ideas, intersected agendas, and compatible governance approaches, BRI and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development grow increasingly relevant and they might form synergies based on increasingly interactive relations. In sum,seeking and intensifying the linkages between BRI and 2030 sustainable development goals(SDGs) could address global environmental governance deficits and enhance cooperation among nations.

Bound to lead?Rethinking China's role after Paris in UNFCCC negotiations

As the biggest global emitter of greenhouse gases, China is an extremely important actor in international climate negotiations. During the climate summit in Copenhagen, China was blamed for its uncooperative positions particularly from the US side. However, in the Paris climate process, China's participation in international negotiations is more active, and has become a wellrecognized promoter of the Paris Agreement. To understand China's climate policy, the economic and diplomatic strategy should be taken into consideration, especially the changes in the ideas of China's global governance rooted from domestic politics discourse. Moreover, China's symmetrical changes within domestic and international dimension possibly bring out more balanced climate policies and thus the constructive role of China will be the normalcy in the future United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Changenegotiations. However, the negotiations after the US presidential elections may change dramatically and yields great uncertainty for global action. Thus, the vacuum of power may be a possible scenario. Will China reinforce its role toward leadership or go back to group politics? This article examines China's concerns, motives, and possible path to climate leadership in the current debate.

The Trump administration's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement

After years of complex and challenging negotiations,197countries reached a landmark climate agreement during the 2015 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change summit in Paris(the 21st Conference of the Parties(COP21)).Under the Paris Agreement,countries announced actions they plan to take to mitigate their greenhouse gas emissions known as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions.Although there

中国全球伙伴关系构建的多边主义转向

Developing global partnerships is an important focus for China’s diplomacy in the new era.1 President Xi Jinping proposed at the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs in November 2014,“We should make more friends while abiding by the principle of non-alignment and build a global network of partnerships.”

LIFTING CHINA-ASEAN DIALOGUE RELATIONS TO NEW HEIGHTS

This year marks the 30th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations.Cooperation has been a resounding message delivered by the two sides over the past 30 years.Chinese President Xi Jinping credited China-ASEAN relationship as“the most successful and vibrant model for cooperation”in the Asia-Pacific and an exemplary effort in building a community with a shared future for mankind at the opening ceremony of the 17th China-ASEAN Expo in November 2020.Chinese Premier Li Keqiang proposed to elevate China-ASEAN relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership at the 23rd China-ASEAN summit in November 2020.At the summit,China and ASEAN agreed to lift relations to new heights,demonstrating their strong commitment to developing sound and sustainable relations.

Asia Exploring Sustainable Development

SINCE the 1970s,the gravity of global economy has gradually shifted towards Asia.Compared with other regions,Asia has played an active and leading role in terms of output,trade,and development.China's reform and opening-up and its rapid development have provided a continuous driving force for Asia's economic development and led Asia to become the region with the most economic vigor and development potential in the world today.

Stop Playing The Water Card

The Lancang-Mekong River flows through China,Laos,Myanmar,Thailand,Cambodia and Viet Nam,known as Lancang in China and Mekong elsewhere.The US.began to meddle over the river in 2009,when it launched the Lower Mekong Initathve with Carmbodia,Laos,Thailand and Viet Nam,attempting to cub China's gowing infur ence in the region.The ititve ran in line with the Rebalance to Asia and the Pacific strategy proposed by then US President Barack Obama,with the aim to modemize and strengthen US.aliances.