The Rise of China and Barriers to the East Asia Community Building

With the success of its economic reform and modernization programmes since the late 1970s, China has played an important role in the ASEAN Plus Three (APT process and has exerted increasing influence in East Asia Community (EAC) building to achieve its strategic goals in both economic and politico-security domains. The growing power and influence of China in East Asia has, however, aroused fears among several neighbouring countries and has given rise to deep strategic concerns in other major powers, especially the United States, to contain China`s “charm offensive”1 strategy. Geopolitical and geo-economic competition, along with it the growing disputes in the South China Sea, will pose major barriers to the EAC building process, making it a multi-player power game rather than a constructive effort to reach a mutually beneficial regional consensus.