Self-dependence vital for Asean states in relations with China

THE conduct of foreign relations by South-east Asian countries - the so-called "small state diplomacy" - has the potential to develop new assertiveness, as the United States withdraws from global free trade and alliances, leaving the space wide open for domination by China.

Some South-east Asian countries are not behaving like typical small states: They do not accept the conventional wisdom that diplomacy is all about relations between big powers and that the small countries have no role.

Small states need not accept the conventional wisdom. They can adopt at least three approaches in their foreign relations: self-dependence, "balancing" and "bandwagoning". All three can be practised simultaneously, and they are not mutually exclusive.