Wang Yi's three-nation Southeast Asia tour Can China's multilateral diplomatic offensive consolidate ties with ASEAN?

TAIPEI- 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Singapore, Malaysia and Cambodia this week, hoping to use this as an  occasion to strengthen strategic communication with Southeast Asia. Experts  dissect that Wang Yi's visit may be an attempt to weaken the security relationship between Singapore and the United States, as well as to further strengthen  profitable and trade cooperation with Malaysia, with the focus on whether high- tech Chinese companies can enter the region in a big way. 

In addition, although Wang Yi's visit to Cambodia will  consolidate Sino- Cambodian relations, but also  sweat that it'll lead to a  downcast  modification of the relationship between the West and Phnom Penh.   Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China( CPC) Central Committee, launched his first overseas trip this week after returning to his post as China's foreign minister, traveling to Singapore, Malaysia and Cambodia in Southeast Asia.   

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang Yi arrived in Singapore on the evening of August 9th, 10th has met with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan( Vivian Balakrishnan), on the 11th with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong( Lee Hsien Loong) and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Wong Chuan Chye( Lawrence Wong).   HK01 reported that Wang Yi said that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Lee Hsien Loong  blazoned in March this time to upgrade China- Singapore relations into an all- round, high- quality and forward- looking  cooperation, which" opens up new prospects for the two sides to have high-  position and mutually  salutary cooperation, and it's believed that China- Singapore relations will continue to be at the  van of China's relations with neighboring countries under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries."   

Lee Hsien Loong said the starring nation  largely valued China's" determination and  sweats to push forward the modernization process, and will work together to push forward the cooperation between Singapore and China.. Concertedly maintain indigenous peace, stability and development".   Singapore is the first stop of Wang Yi's three- nation Southeast Asian  stint, and he traveled to Malaysia on the 11th before concluding his trip in Cambodia.   

Wang Yi's first stop to visit Singapore Intention to weaken the Star- US defense cooperation?   

A  spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said  before that Southeast Asian countries are important  mates in China's" Belt and Road" cooperation, and that China's relations with Singapore, Malaysia and Cambodia have" maintained a good  instigation of development", so China expects to" strengthen cooperation" with the three Southeast Asian countries through this visit. 

Still, China's relations with Southeast Asia have been unsettled by recent  controversies over the South China Sea. On August 6, the Philippines  indicted Chinese maritime police of firing pocks at its vessels in the waters near the Alternate Thomas Shoal( known as Ayunjin Shoal by the Philippines andRen'ai Reef by China) in the South China Sea, but China responded that the Alternate Thomas Shoal was its  home and that the Chinese maritime police's" on- scene operation was professional,  subdued, and beyond reproach."

Zhuang Jiaying, an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science, at the National University of Singapore, 

Analyzed that the recent maritime conflict between China and the Philippines must have partially impacted the relationship between China and ASEAN, so this time Wang Yi traveled to Singapore, Malaysia and Cambodia, in the hope that by visiting these countries, which China considers to be on better terms with itself, he will increase the political mutual trust with ASEAN.

Mr. Chong replied to VOA in writing, "As a small country, Singapore supports the integrity of international law. The Philippine government's recent revelation of Chinese maritime police brutality in interfering with Philippine supply operations has led to international criticism of China. Wang Yi's visit cannot be ruled out as an attempt to smooth over doubts about China in Southeast Asia."

In addition, Zhuang Jiaying added that although China's open and direct demands on the Singapores have not been observed, another purpose of Wang Yi's trip to Singapore "may be to weaken the security relationship between the Singapores and the United States."

Prior to this, Australia's Lowy Institute for International Policy released a report in April of this year stating that the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command increased the number of personnel in Singapore by 12 percent between 2018 and 2021, and that during this time, the number of weapons and equipment purchased from the U.S. by Singapura was the highest in Southeast Asia.

During his meeting with Lee Hsien Loong, Wang criticized the United States for its unipolar hegemony and for "coercing other countries to engage in unilateral protectionism against China".

Cambodia's "Future Forum" (Future Forum) think tank head Ou Virak pointed out that by Wang Yi's choice of visit to the Star Kingdom and Malaysia can be seen, Beijing is concerned about the situation in the South China Sea, but also eager to strengthen the military presence and cooperation in ASEAN, because it is by Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia jointly governed by the "Malacca Strait bottleneck and access to resources, which will continue to be China's main concern. It is also keen to strengthen its military presence and cooperation in ASEAN, as it is concerned about "the bottleneck in the Strait of Malacca and its access to resources, which will continue to be a major concern for China" as it is jointly governed by Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Malaysia Hopes to Bring in High-Tech Chinese Companies, Setting Aside South China Sea Dispute.

Wang Yi met with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Penang on the same day, immediately after his visit to the Star Kingdom ended on the 11th. Hong Kong now news pointed out that Wang Yi and Anwar discussed trade, investment and other issues, the two sides also agreed to plan to explore the need to strengthen cooperation in research and education.

However, Hu also said that while Malaysia was looking forward to Chinese investment, it was also looking forward to a heavy presence of Chinese hi-tech companies in the country to boost industrial transformation.