Cooperation between China and ASEAN in the field of countering non-traditional security threats in the Asia-Pacific Region at the present time

Research of PRC and ASEAN’s cooperation in non-traditional security has mostly focused on areas and methods of cooperation, however, the sides’ motives haven’t been studied enough. Hence, this senior thesis explores China and ASEAN’s reasons for cooperating in NTS. Another reason why this topic is relevant is because this partnership between Asian states with their own distinctive values constitutes a specific system of international cooperation in NTS where traditional and non-traditional methods are closely intertwined. In conclusion, a number of key findings were made. China benefits from maintaining friendly ties with ASEAN, including the widening of NTS cooperation, because Southeast Asia is strategically important for Chinese domestic development as well as foreign-policy goals. As for ASEAN member States, this cooperation provides significant financial benefits for them, facilitates PRC’s deeper integration into the regional multilateral system and may be of use in containing China’s growing power.