China's Role in the Evolution of Southeast Asian Regional Organizations

Abstract

Geographically and strategically, Southeast Asia represents the natural extension of China's interests in the region. In the course of discussing China's role in four regional organizations, ASEAN, ARF, ASEAN+3, and EAS, its interactions with the United States, Japan, and India will be reviewed as well. The goal of this paper is to consider whether or not China has maintained and is maintaining a dominant position within these fora.