To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN strategic partnership, the Special China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in Beijing on August 29. The two sides made joint efforts to cool down disputes over the South China Sea while seeking new ways toward a bilateral cooperation.

They decided to officially kick off consultations on the code of conduct this September in Suzhou, a city on the east coast of China. China held that all parties facing territorial disputes over the South China Sea should have "realistic expectations" and take "a gradual approach" to a proposed code of conduct, adding that confrontation was not a favored option.

Most ASEAN countries realize they cannot allow South China Sea disputes to escalate to damage the organization or deflect regional peace and stability. Cambodia, Brunei, Thailand and Malaysia have resisted the Philippines' plan to turn ASEAN against China on the South China Sea issue. Viet Nam, a party directly involved in the matter, also opposed the Philippines' provocations. The ASEAN defense ministers' meeting, held on August 28, right before the ADMM-Plus meeting, reaffirmed their stance of "no first use of force" while encouraging practical measures to ease tensions.

ASEAN can find some relief as both China and the United States have now expressed intentions to avoid escalating competition in Southeast Asia. Chang met with Hagel, emphasizing that the two countries should maintain dialogue and strengthen mutual trust while actively developing bilateral defense and military ties. Earlier in mid-August, Chang paid a visit to the United States as China's new defense minister. During the visit, the two sides identified the direction of building a military relationship that falls under the framework of a new type of relations between major powers.

Attempts to achieve positive interactions between the Chinese and U.S. militaries in the Asia-Pacific region involving ASEAN countries have already been underway. In 2012, China was invited to observe the Cobra Gold multilateral joint militaries exercise which was led by the United States and held in Thailand. The Chinese Navy is invited to participate in the scheduled 2014 U.S.-organized Rim of the Pacific exercises, the biggest multinational maritime exercise. The first China-U.S. joint military exercises on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to be held in Hawaii this November is also expected to produce a demonstrative effect for Southeast Asia.

Historically, Southeast Asian countries have long been at the frontlines of confrontation between major powers. Used as pawns in wars between great powers, they suffered enormously from the horrors of war. When ASEAN, an organization founded in 1967, emerged out of the shadow of the Cold War, it put forth the principles of achieving agreement through consultation and peaceful cooperation. On one hand, it has sought strength through unity; on the other, it has taken the initiative to coordinate with major powers. It has indeed made remarkable achievements.

ASEAN is now standing at a new historical juncture. Can the organization negotiate the pitfalls of being in the middle of competition between China and the United States? There are risks involved, but any arising conflicts can be mitigated.

Competition between China and the United States is inevitable in terms of geostrategic interests. However, the consensus on both sides to jointly build a new type of relationship among major powers and their common interest in maintaining peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific have cemented a mutual goal for their actions in Southeast Asia. In the long term, ASEAN will ultimately benefit.

The author is an op-ed contributor to Beijing Review

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