Asian Values as the Foundation for a China-ASEAN Security Community

Editor's Note: This article is adapted from a speech delivered by Veronika Sintha Saraswati, Director of the Global Development Research Center, Indonesia. She reflects on the historical development of “Asian values” and discusses their significance as a cultural foundation for deeper China-ASEAN cooperation and regional community-building.

---

Workers inspect the equipment at the China-built Kuala Ketil solar farm in Kedah, Malaysia, on June 6, 2024. ZHANG WENZONG/XINHUA

Historically, the concept of “Asian values” gained prominence alongside the economic rise of the Asian Tigers in the 1970s and 1980s, a period marked by development models that diverged from Western paradigms. Promoted by ASEAN scholars and leaders, these values were articulated as distinct from Western individualism, rooted instead in philosophies such as Confucianism, Buddhism, and Islam. Key tenets include collectivism, social harmony, diligence, and respect for authority and family.

In the context of contemporary China–ASEAN relations, Chinese leaders have further refined this framework, explicitly defining Asian values through the principles of peace, cooperation, openness, and inclusiveness. These principles now serve as guiding norms for interactions between China and ASEAN.

However, the most fundamental foundation of this relationship remains culture. Without a shared understanding of core values—such as respect for ancestors, the prioritization of social harmony, and the concept of “saving face”—the rhetoric of mutual benefit often found in cooperation charters risks remaining empty. If each party interprets “benefit” through differing cultural frameworks, economic agreements may falter, political negotiations may become fraught with suspicion, and defense cooperation may be perceived as strategic traps rather than collaborative efforts.

Therefore, Southeast Asia and China must move beyond purely pragmatic relations toward the establishment of a true security community, grounded in shared cultural understanding and values.

(If you have specific expertise, or would like to share your thoughts, please send us your writings at CAobservation@outlook.com)