China reversed its closed door policy to trade and years of isolation from the foreign trading and financial system of multilateralism and this opening up saw it leapfrog its technological innovation and export policy to penetrate third world countries,and emerging economies.Thus the benefits saw an uplifting of the living standards of the average houusehold and the rising of a large group of middleclass consumers.
It has also seen how it powered export of innovative products from low end agricultural products to high tech comsummables from tv,appliances,air cond to high tech drones,solar panels,smartphones,deep sea submersibles and etc.
With the rise of economic might,it might be tempted to extend its power into foreign territories to protect its access to trade routes and passageway to natural resources.How would we handle this elephant in the room?
The lesson learned from foreign proxy war waged in Vietnam should prompt stronger alliance between Asean plus three to present a united front not to let the rights of smaller mousedeers be trampled to death caught in the crossfires between two lumbering gigantic elephants.ASEAN was founded to avoid the spillover from Cold War conflict from disturbing the peaceful sovereignity of smaller states.It should be reminded of the principle of the founding fathers of ZOPFAN.When all the hype was played out to stoke tension and fear about the DOMINO theory,and the collapse of SEA into the RED sea,such mass media hysteria were like the Y2K panic theory and the weapons of mass destruction pretexts for preemptive strikes.So ASEAN has to take a common stance that incursion on one member state's territory is an incursion on ASEAN solidarity.Claims on rights based on dubious borders would mean Tibet,Mongolia or XinJiang would have right to claim autonomous self rule because historically and ethnically they were occupied by non Hans.
Is it a sign of peaceful intention when military high tech surveillance are installed at the gateway of South China Sea? Perhaps if the intention was peaceful policing of waterway from piracy,then ASEAN should do more for ensuring safe passage of goods through its water by establishing a joint MARINE CORP with participation of all forces from ASEAN member countries to deter piracy or even more importantly ISIS terrorists with highly skilled militants.EU had the forces of NATO so ASEAN should set up joint peacekeeping force to tackle illegal human traffickers,drug traffickers etc
Air Asia has done a wonderful job at transport interconnectivity between ASEAN member states but how about ease of banking systems so that with an ASEAN member bank card or app system,tourists and businessmen do not need to tt money and migrant workers send money home with ease.
The Asian economies should learn from the fast paced economic development of first world nations and the ecological destruction and loss of cultural traditions.
In The Asian Futures -Dialogues for Change edited by Pracha Hutanuwatr,Ranu Manivannan and Jane Rasbash ,leading SEA sian intellectuals look at the long term effect of globalization and the economic and social impact of industrialization on loss of cultural diversity and ecological impact.With intellectuals likeVandana Shiva andSulak Sivarasa,the impact of consumerism and its impact on the lifestyle and value system and social structure of the family and community is discussed and ASEAN would not achieve solidarity without setting up of a common cultural platform and an Asean tv channel showcasing documentary of the history,economy and geography of the ASEAN region ,all which has experienced colonialism in common.
With the Silk route ,China had maritime and land linkages to enhance trading but in SEA it was the Spice route. Can we have mini markets and cafes with ASEAN products ,music that showcases different languages and clothing that uses the fine textiles so a kimono made from batik print or athleisure wear that uses lyra and batik design would be reflective of our common identity.
