China's soft power: An evaluation of diplomatic ties with ASEAN on economic relations / Mohamad Mustaain Wahab

China’s appearances in international standing started post-World War II together with the United States, Russia, France and the United Kingdom emerged as the victors of the war (Goldstein and Pevehouse 2014). China is constantly making the representation of its power-holding status through embarking strategic economic plans, modernization militarization and redirecting its focal points of foreign policy (Holmes,2015). In addition, Kliman (2014) is impressed with the 10% of the economic growth that China projected since 1978-2010.It cemented China’s position as the second biggest economy in the world after 10 years. Another research by Richard Maher (2016) stated that China will have years before successfully overpower The United States. He asserted that China gradually increases its soft power through economic successes to influence the international system politics. Yet, China is comfortable in its backyard because its stronger presence is very much accepted especially in East Asia and Southeast Asia region. This is also making ASEAN particularly uncomfortable with how China projects itself in Southeast Asia. However, economic advantages given by China are seriously pivotal for ASEAN’s sustainability and prosperity with ASEAN as China’s fourth major trading partners (Bae,2014). This draws an interesting question, whether China uses its soft power in the economy to bind ASEAN to its strategic needs (Hiep,2016). Thus, this study aims to investigate whether such a phenomenon is really happening especially on the China-ASEAN economic relations.