Beijing is welcoming ASEAN’s concept of the Indo-Pacific but is yet to endorse the concept as a result of its skepticism toward the bloc’s slow drive on regional integration.

A diplomat at the Chinese Mission to ASEAN, requesting to remain anonymous, told The Jakarta Post that the Indo-Pacific concept, initially developed by Indonesia, was more constructive than those of the United States and Japan. It, most importantly, did not seem to contain Beijing, the source said.

Nonetheless, the source said Beijing would unlikely announce its position on the matter in the near future as there was no concrete cooperation yet.

For now, China would keep its eyes on the deliberation of the Indo-Pacific at ASEAN level and see what the regional bloc would do about it, he said at a media gathering recently.

While other Indo-Pacific concepts, such as the US’ Indo-Pacific...