Asian nations' role vital to initiative

The support of Asian countries is crucial to China reshaping the Asia-Pacific regional order, which has been dominated by the United States. Despite the many political and strategic differences between Beijing and Washington, China has developed into a global power based on its growing economic, political and military strength, and its rise will help improve the regional and global order.

But China's national strength is yet to be proportionally translated into its global influence. Most Asian countries have welcomed China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, because it is expected to boost their respective economies. Still, many of them are cautious about regional security because of China's increasing national strength and engagement in regional and global affairs.

The changed attitudes of the Philippines and some other countries that have territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea can hardly be interpreted as Beijing having the capability of setting the security agenda for the Asia-Pacific region. Instead, those countries' changed attitudes can be seen as a prudent move to safeguard their own national interests in order to bargain with the US.