ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights the key debates between leading approaches in international relations – between the West and non-West (or the East) – and confrontational approaches regarding the relations between the international or regional organisations. It argues that the Treaty of Westphalia, which governs the relations among the modern sovereign states, has been dominant in the West. The Westphalian principles, which originated in Europe, later spread to the non-Western regions and have been accepted by the non-Western states for the conduct of their relations with other states.
The notions of the Westphalian treaty form the fundamental principles of international law which establishes the principle of equality amongst the sovereign states and non-interference in the internal affairs of a nation state as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. According to this notion, every state should be treated equally irrespective of size and power. It also highlights that China, disregarding the principle, has claimed that ASEAN countries, small-sized, should respect policies set by a big-sized country, China, particularly on the issue of the South China Sea.
The chapter concludes by stating that such behaviour from China reminds scholars of the debates surrounding not only ‘sovereignty’ but also ‘suzerainty.’ It concludes that in the aftermath of the Cold War, Asian regionalism is also on the rise, giving prominence to the non-western approaches to international relations.
Keywords: Cold War; APEC; ASEAN; Asian regionalism; Non-western IR; Sovereignty; UN
