서강대학교

초록/요약

The ASEAN strategic cultures are products of politicized national identities which, in turn, have been shaped by the defense ministries. The security policies of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam diverge into two different approaches in dealing with China in the context of South China Sea dispute. The Philippines and Vietnam foster a strategic culture of assertiveness, while Malaysia and Brunei exhibit a culture of discreetness. Unilaterally, the Philippines and Vietnam have been posturing a norm of rivalry by publicly insisting Chinese intrusion regarding the disputed area, while Malaysia and Brunei have been downplaying and avoiding the issue. Multilaterally, the Philippines and Vietnam constantly call for collaboration to operationalize the ARF from a confidence-building platform into an inclusive preventive diplomacy avenue; although in principle, Malaysia and Brunei accommodate the call, in practice, they deny non-state actors to be involved in the discussions and negotiations regarding security matters. These strategic cultures are not neutral or impartial. The defense ministries resort to such mechanisms to complement their material interests by politicizing national identities of sovereignty and national prosperity, which are accepted and internalized by their respective countries. With all things constant, the contribution of strategic culture in the analysis of Sino-ASEAN relations regarding South China Sea dispute lies in the ability to provide an additional diagnostic tool in further understanding the internal factors of decision making processes beyond rational choice theory. It does not aim to debunk material justifications, instead it provides a space for ideational explanations in order to have a holistic understanding of the issue. Exposing the identities and norms of the four ASEAN countries can be leveraged to search for solutions in improving Sino-ASEAN relations in the South China Sea dispute.