ABSTRACT

This chapter suggests that the fundamental problem with Southeast Asian strategies for managing China's growth is the lack of recognition that post-Cold War East Asia has faced the parallel resurgence of both China and the United States, not just the rise of China. Next it examines China policy in the context of Southeast Asian strategies to manage regional great powers during the post-Cold War strategic transition, highlighting the initiative and innovation, but also exposing the particular instrumental motivations specific to this collection of small states. Next it analyses Southeast Asian responses to the Obama administration's 'pivot' to Asia and the implications for their China policy as a way to highlight the limitations discussed in the chapter in the diplomatic, military and economic realms. There is a danger that Southeast Asian post-Cold War strategies to manage China's rise and great power politics more generally have reached a plateau and are beginning to incur growing marginal costs and dangers.