ASEAN’s Norm Subsidiarity Strategy in Shaping Regional Order in the South China Sea

Abstract

In order to avoid further erosion of its own autonomy and marginalization in the shaping of the order in the South China Sea, ASEAN has actively taken the initiative to strengthen the shaping of the order in the South China Sea by resorting to the principle of norm subsidiarity. On the one hand, it has resisted negatively the U.S.-advocated norm of “freedom of navigation” through the strategy of norm indifference. On the other hand, it has resisted positively the Chinese-advocated norm of “bilateralism” through the strategy of local norm practice. ASEAN’s actions have achieved certain results in resisting the influence of great power norms, but have achieved limited results in promoting the dominant position of ASEAN norms. In the future, ASEAN needs to speed up the conclusion of a more substantive “Code of Conduct in the South China Sea” with China, strengthen internal unity and solidarity, enhance the influence of ASEAN norms, and revive ASEAN’s reputation.