Research On Rebuilding "ASEAN Centrality" In The Framework Of Asia-Pacific Regional Cooperation

In recent years,the tension between China and the United States has escalated and issues such as the Sino-US trade war have continued to emerge,making the development process of Southeast Asia swayed by major power competition and geopolitical games.At the same time,ASEAN plays a central role in regional cooperation in the world’s most dynamic region,underscoring its importance in international relations.This study adopts international cooperation theory and "collective action dilemma" theory to research and analyze the connotation,manifestation,significance,crisis resolution and existence necessity of "ASEAN centrality"."ASEAN centrality" comes from the practice of Southeast Asian integration.ASEAN unites the vastly different Southeast Asian countries into one unity,creats unique diplomatic principles such as the "ASEAN way" and "ASEAN norms",and spills over to East Asia,the Asia-Pacific and other larger countries in the regional cooperation mechanism.After the Cold War,in order to cope with the changes of the times and maintain its independent status,ASEAN initiate regional cooperation proactively.With the "ASEAN+" mechanism as the core,it established cooperation mechanisms such as "ASEAN+1","ASEAN+3" and the East Asia Summit,covering Southeast Asia,Northeast Asia,and the Asia-Pacific region.The establishment of "ASEAN Centrality" not only means that Southeast Asia is the geographical center of the Asia-Pacific region,but also means that the regional cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region will be carried out by ASEAN based on the principle of "ASEAN way" and "ASEAN-centered".Integrated construction,safeguarding multilateralism in East Asia,and stabilizing the order of cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.The study found that the current "ASEAN centrality" is facing a situation of "internal and external difficulties".In Southeast Asia,the political cohesion of some countries has weakened,and ASEAN is unable to intervene;the economic development of Southeast Asian countries is different,and the economic integration process of ASEAN is slow;the ideological differences among countries are large,making it difficult to form regional identity.In the Asia-Pacific region,the existing cooperation mechanism is congested,diluting the "ASEAN centrality";foreign powers intervene in the cooperation process in Southeast Asia,impacting the cooperation mechanism centered on "ASEAN+";competition among major powers causes countries in the region to "pick sides",and ASEAN cohesion decreased.In general,the development process of the Asia-Pacific region has been blocked,and the "ASEAN centrality" has encountered a crisis of dissolving.The influence of ASEAN countries on regional and global development is increasing.ASEAN’s centrality is an important factor in promoting regional stability and prosperity,and plays an important role in maintaining regional peace.In view of this,this study will propose a path for rebuilding the "ASEAN centrality" based on the above research,and provide China with suggestions for foreign policy.In the Asia-Pacific regional cooperation,ASEAN should adhere to the "ASEAN centrality",stimulate the internal motivation of ASEAN,accelerate the integration of ASEAN,improve the leadership mechanism,optimize the "ASEAN norms",and promote political security mutual trust,economic integration and development,and cultural exchanges in Southeast Asia Learn from each other with social civilization and strengthen ASEAN leadership.At the same time,it will continue to maintain the strategy of "balance among major powers" externally,and strengthen external cooperation with the principle of neutrality,so as to rebuild the "central status of ASEAN".In the future,under the background of global economic integration,the establishment of an Asia-Pacific regional cooperation framework with ASEAN as the core is the only way to promote the development of regional cooperation,and it is also an urgent need for a series of strategic goals such as China’s peaceful rise and the stabilization of its surrounding strategic environment.ASEAN is the priority direction of China’s peripheral diplomacy.The stabilization of "ASEAN centrality" is of great strategic significance to China.China should vigorously build a China-ASEAN community of shared future and provide strong support for rebuilding "ASEAN centrality".