“Distance tests a horse’s strength, and time reveals a person’s integrity.” Chinese President Xi Jinping said in 2021.

China has left an indelible trace in ASEAN’s history in many aspects, ranging from the economy to politics. In pursuit of deepening the liaison, China introduced the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in October 2021 during the 24th ASEAN-China summit. The initiative merited global recognition and awareness of all stakeholders, particularly the ASEAN youth. 

Until today, the CSP’s definition varies according to people’s views, experience and knowledge of the topic, which begs a more thorough elucidation. In general, however, the CSP is regarded as a tool to enhance mutual trust, maintain good neighborliness and clear skepticism, which contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability within the region.

Regarding the economy, not only can the CSP help alleviate trade protectionism in tandem with fierce Sino-United States trade competition, but it also opens an opportunity for ASEAN member states to induce economic growth through digitalization and sustainable management.

In parallel, the CSP is a catalyst to the spirit of equity by empowering women and people with disabilities, providing scholarships, creating think tanks, promoting regional tourism, be it conventional or digital, and endorsing cultural exchange, all of which conform to the “Unity in Diversity” concept of ASEAN.

In short, the China-ASEAN CSP is multidimensional, long-term and equal-footed diplomacy that benefits both parties politically, economically and socially.

Having read the definition, one must realize that the partnership diplomacy has undoubtedly bestowed canonical opportunities upon both sides. Through the ASEAN-China Plan of Action, the CSP helps combat transnational crimes, promote human rights and avert unnecessary military escalation.

In addition to supporting the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, perennial disputes in the South China Sea, for example, have subsided to a certain degree owing to the Code of Conduct and UNCLOS 1982. Furthermore, the bridge between China and ASEAN also provides solutions to COVID-19, improves connectivity and invests in the future generation. Besides funding and engaging research, development and healthcare professionals,

The ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholarship provided a five-year scholarship to 550 Cambodian students during the pandemic (Tith, 2021). Moreover, the China Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor of BRI also improved efficiency and ensured balanced development, innovation and connectivity by increasing exports, focusing more on transportation and less on metal and energy (OECD, 2018).

Nevertheless, skepticism is still the main hurdle blocking the path to success. From a realist perspective, China’s bonding a partnership may be only to fulfill the state’s interest as an emerging power, and it can be depicted through the issue of the Mekong River, in which environmentalists ascribe the damage inflicted on the fish and people whose livelihoods depend on the downstream to China’s dam construction and water flow diversion in the upstream (Simmons et al., 2022).

Plus, the geopolitical tension among China, Taiwan and the US, combined with the negative perception by ASEAN people, particularly local people, toward the behavior of the Chinese diaspora in their countries, increases this anxiety.

Due to the lack of people’s understanding of their significance and the lack of appreciation for youth’s role in making a change, the negative perception persists. As unresolvable as it may seem, the problem can be minimized by recalibrating people’s perceptions to ensure efficiency in solving problems without bias. Hence, it is more beneficial to take a step back and start with the new generation.

Aiming to make ASEAN youth understand the importance of their voice, the states should engage youth interest and explain the concept of ASEAN projects to them so as to invite them to be part of the policy. To simplify, the procedure should commence with students.

The states can galvanize students by integrating ASEAN knowledge into the curriculum from elementary school. In doing so, this long-term solution will grant the new generation more time to broaden their knowledge.

In line with the long-term solution, the government should host events as a short-term solution to cultivate cultural and linguistic exchange while ensuring equitable access. Competitions and scholarships, for example, will attract competitive students, while entertaining events (e.g., concerts or e-sports tournaments), in which famous influencers partake, will attract the rest, which, consequently, will increase recognition.

However, such policies will never matter if some people cannot find enough food to fill their plates. Thus, one must not forget those who are having a hard time adjusting to trade liberalization. The states can remind them of their importance in the policy by making the policy’s fruits visible.

The government may host a charity, providing both financial stimuluses and technological equipment, particularly for agriculture, and encourage benevolent acts in the name of ASEAN to help those in need. Additionally, the government should support small and medium enterprises (SMEs), local businesses and farmers in rural areas by securing the market and providing incentives, knowledge and technology for them to better adapt to trade liberalization.

Finally, to measure the success of the recommendations’ effectiveness, the states should invite NGOs as third parties to observe the events and distribute surveys to people to investigate their perceptions and seek constructive criticism. The governments can then calculate the correlation between the success of the policy and the improvement of the economy. Ultimately, the recommendations will connect any ASEAN policies with the people’s need to remind each and every one of their contributions.

In conclusion, the China-ASEAN CSP is diplomacy that will maintain peace and stability, engender economic growth and promote equity for all people.

Plus, the CSP helps solve issues related to transnational crimes, human rights, war, public health, connectivity and education. Nevertheless, skepticism is still a hindrance to surmount. Therefore, the states need to win the people’s hearts by introducing ASEAN in elementary schools, creating events, hosting charity, encouraging acts of benevolence and finally inviting NGOs to join in measuring the success.

As Alexander the Great put it, “Upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all.”

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The writer is a Bachelor of Education student at the Department of English, Institutes of Foreign Languages, Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), and a School of Medicine student, University of Health Sciences (UHS) Phnom Penh.