At the recent China-ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting, held in Myanmar by China and the 10 ASEAN member countries, Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Chang Wanquan officially invited the defense minister of each ASEAN member state to hold a China-ASEAN Defense Ministers' Special Dialogue in China in 2015.
Chang also put forward a series of proposals to strengthen pragmatic cooperation between China and ASEAN, which will enhance mutual strategic trust and further deepen cooperation in the fields of defense and security.
The Asia-Pacific region encompasses large landmasses and vast oceans with diverse cultures.
The prevailing security mechanisms in this region are basically sub-regional, and there is still no security mechanism covering the whole region.
However, the situation is changing, with the role of ASEAN growing prominent.
The US emphasis of wooing ASEAN is part of its "rebalancing to Asia" strategy. ASEAN, which played a marginal and minor role in US global strategy during the administrations of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, has become a key part of the security agenda of the Obama government.
It is unknown whether the recent provocations against Beijing by Manila and Hanoi are related to the US-ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting held in April. But it's no coincidence that some senior US officials delivered aggressive remarks at the same time as the escalation of the South China Sea disputes.
China has its own advantages against the US when it comes to winning over ASEAN. The Chinese leadership has paid a lot of attention to developing security cooperation with ASEAN.
ASEAN takes a primary position in China's neighborhood diplomacy of building a community of common destiny in the Asia-Pacific region and stressing amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. Expanding cooperation with ASEAN member states in the field of security is Beijing's established policy.
China and ASEAN have many approaches to cooperation. For many years, China has been actively engaging in regional security mechanisms kicked off by ASEAN.
Under the framework of the ASEAN Regional Forum, China actively participates in the disaster relief exercises and will co-host the 2015 ASEAN Regional Forum Disaster Relief Exercise with Malaysia.
Moreover, by deepening pragmatic cooperation, including promoting high-profile visits, staff training, academic communication and joint drills, the Chinese army has maintained a good momentum of cooperation with ASEAN member states.
At the same time, Chinese capabilities of providing security in the region are growing.
For instance, China carried out escort missions against pirates in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia, and it sent ships and aircraft to participate in the search and rescue of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.
More importantly, China boasts unique geopolitical and economic advantages. The fates of China and ASEAN as two close neighbors are bound together.
Economy and security are the two wheels of China-ASEAN relationship. Holding fast to security issues will take the China-ASEAN economic cooperation and regional integration to new heights.
The author is a research fellow with the Center for China-US Defense Relations at the PLA Academy of Military Science. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn