Trilateral Relations between China, the United States and ASEAN since the End of the 20th Century: A Power Transition Theory Perspective

　　Chen Yande ：College of Humanities, Xiamen University

　　Chen Yao: PhD Candidate, College of Humanities, Xiamen University

　　Abstract:China’s rise has changed the trade, economics, political and cognitive dynamics in the trilateral relations between China, the United States, and regional grouping ASEAN. Due to regional economic integration, trade diversion effect, and resistance to regional political integration, the SinoUS power relationship is changing, and the East Asian order is experiencing structural changes. The three parties are influencing each other in areas of trade, economies, politics and cognition. The positive trilateral relations as results have enabled peaceful power transition in the East Asian region. Nonetheless, there remained outstanding issues which require the continuing efforts of the three parties to accommodate and cooperate with each other. These issues include China’s appreciation of US’ role in Southeast and East Asia, resolving Southeast Asia’s “security dilemma” via a balanced approach that between the application of China’s “hard” and “soft” power and careful handling of “China threat theories”.