Analysis On Development Of China-ASEAN Relationship From Life Cycle Of Norms Theory

With the further development of economic globalization, international societybecomes an organic whole. Countries become more and more interdependence and easyto be affected by others. The international community has formed universally acceptednorms, such as the "UN Charter" and the "Declaration of Human Rights." Theinternational community is currently under anarchy with no authoritative third party, butdoes not mean there is no order, which should be maintained by norms. Constructivismthought that the State wants to be recognized by the international community, it mustrespect the basic norms. Norm is not just binding, but can better guide the behavior ofactors, and reshape the national interest. Norm is not static. State actors and norms aremutual constructed. With the rise of international norms theory, norms become theforefront issue of many constructivists’ research, including nor emergence, normcascade, internalization and norm degradation. Martha Finnemore and Kathryn Sikkinkis the international representative of the norm life cycle theory, and they thought that thelife cycle should include norm emergence, norm cascade, internalization, which havebeen given norm once produced life. The norm cycle theory well explained thatdifferent characters through different stage.ASEAN was established in1967. Along with changes in the internationalenvironment and the establishment of multilateral cooperation mechanisms, ASEANformed a regional norm, named the "ASEAN norms." From Constructivism aspect,ASEAN norm regulate state behavior and reconstruct national interest, and try tochange the regional order. The ASEAN countries are proud of the "ASEAN norms" tomake the ASEAN countries to maintain a relatively stable peace in the region, and seekto maximize the international interests in order to lead in promoting East Asian politics,economic and security integration. In promoting the process of ASEAN integration,ASEAN norms are constantly improving, which have been recognized by more regionalpower. As a great power in East Asia, China also learn how to develop diplomatic relations with ASEAN and how to accelerate the process of integration into the region,while also enriching the "ASEAN norms" connotation. By studying the "ASEANnorms" of the life cycle, this article try to analyze the various stages of development indifferent states with different periods of China-ASEAN relations presented, meanwhile,founded that how norm weakness affect China-ASEAN relations. Many constructivistsdo research on norms degradation. This article also attempts to simple analyze ASEANnorms degradation characteristics to explore the ASEAN norms complete life cycleimpact on the establishment of the East Asian norms, also try to found how chinashould cooperate with ASEAN to build ASEAN norms to maintain order in East Asia.In short, the life cycle of ASEAN norm is a dynamic process of development. Thedevelopment of china-ASEAN relationship can be thought as socializing "of ASEANnorms" process. By establishing ASEAN multilateral framework, ASEAN has enabledChina become a norm advocator. China and ASEAN will try utmost to maintainregional order.