Chinese-Taiwanese-Southeast Asian triangular relations: On building and rebuilding political and economic assertiveness in South China Sea

Abstract

China’s extraordinary economic growth and active diplomacy continue to transform greater East Asia with its sphere of influence extending to the other side of the globe through its robust development aid provisions. Taiwan, despite its political isolation with the admission of China into the United Nations as well as due to the “One China” principle managed to grow its economy as one of Asia’s tigers– a driver that led Taiwan to establish economic and cultural relations with Southeast Asian states in the absence of formal diplomatic relations. Meanwhile, Southeast Asia has seen robust and continued economic growth in the past few decades. Notwithstanding these economic gains, the present geopolitical sphere in this part of the world is becoming tenser than ever. China has been increasingly assertive in its actions in the South China Sea for years now, while Taiwan has also done a fair share of mobilisation in the contested islands. Protests from some ASEAN-member states have escalated, as manifested in their foreign policies. Within this trajectory, this paper looks into the underlying aspects of the triangular relations between China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. K