Explaining the paradox of China's participation in the Asean regional forum : a motive-based approach.

• Main Author: Wetzer, Charles.
• Other Authors: S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
• Format: Theses and Dissertations
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Humanities
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/55163
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This dissertation will aim at showing that the combination of the characteristics of the ASEAN Way of institution-building and an instrumental participation of China in the ARF can explain the paradox of observing simultaneously an apparent socialization of China in the ARF and Chinese behaviors that undermine the ASEAN effort of cooperative security. It will be argued that there has been a convergence of behaviors and interests in the ARF but not of normative values and understandings. This paradox has been enabled by the ASEAN Way and directed by the ." instrumentality of the Chinese participation in the ARF. Finally, the South China Sea disputes will illustrate this paradox.