The South China Sea as an Asymmetric Governance Space in ASEAN–China Relations

Abstract

This paper approaches the South China Sea as an asymmetric governance space in ASEAN–China relations, rather than viewing it merely as a collection of overlapping sovereignty disputes. Drawing on a combined framework of regional institutionalism, hedging strategies of small and middle powers, and the behavior of a rising great power, the study examines how ASEAN and China interact under conditions of persistent power asymmetry. The findings indicate that ASEAN has not pursued hard balancing or full bandwagoning toward China; instead, it has opted for asymmetric governance through soft, consensus-based, and non-legally binding institutional mechanisms, most notably the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and the ongoing negotiation process of the Code of Conduct (COC). These mechanisms have contributed to maintaining relative stability and preventing conflict escalation, despite their inability to resolve sovereignty disputes at their root. From China’s perspective, selective institutional engagement enables Beijing to stabilize the regional environment while preserving strategic freedom of action. The paper makes a theoretical contribution by conceptualizing the South China Sea as an asymmetric governance space, thereby illuminating both the possibilities and the limitations of ASEAN-led regional governance in the context of intensifying great-power competition.

https://doi.org/10.26803/MyRes.2026.12