China's socialization of ASEAN in resolving the South China Sea disputes

Abstract

China has employed normative power to socialize ASEAN, especially the claimant states, to accommodate China's preference for direct, bilateral negotiations while maintaining status-quo cooperation in non-binding multilateralism as the normal standard to resolve the disputes. Such a normal standard requires China to respect the ASEAN norms of international relations, while also seeking to earn a respectful reciprocation from ASEAN towards China's preferred way to resolve the disputes. Nevertheless, China's attempt at socializing ASEAN to accept this norm has only been partially successful. The perception that China is becoming increasingly assertive in the South China Sea region without regards to the interests of other ASEAN claimant states has undermined China's ability as a normative power to socialize ASEAN.