China-ASEAN cooperation remains crucial anchor of regional stability and prosperity: China Daily editorial

This week's ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related gatherings in Manila have placed the Philippine capital at the forefront of geopolitical discussions.

Amid the crowded diplomatic calendar, one reality is evident: China's engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations remains focused on strengthening regional cooperation.

Apart from the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also had a series of bilateral meetings in Manila covering a wide range of issues.

The meeting between Wang and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was conducive to both sides jointly managing their differences and exploring potential areas of cooperation, thereby sustaining the momentum of stabilizing Sino-US ties.

As ASEAN chair this year, the Philippines claims it prioritizes regional unity and security, while also commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. The anniversary is an opportune time to reflect on how ASEAN should uphold its strategic autonomy and consider who its true partners are.

China was the first major country to accede to the TAC, lending international weight to ASEAN's diplomatic architecture. This year also marks the fifth anniversary of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, providing an opportunity to further deepen cooperation through the 65 established mechanisms that already bind the two sides. The China-ASEAN partnership continues to be an anchor for the region's stability and prosperity.

Wang's meetings in Manila reinforced that. In talks with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, both sides reaffirmed their support for ASEAN centrality, regional community-building and stronger cooperation across various sectors. Wang's discussions with Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan focused on accelerating the negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, reflecting a shared interest in ensuring that regional security issues are addressed by regional countries themselves.

This approach contrasts with the course pursued by some in Manila in recent years. While presenting the Philippines as a "champion" of "regional unity", they have increasingly sought to align the country's security policy with external parties. Frequent maritime provocations in the South China Sea, including the latest incident in waters near China's Ren'ai Reef on Monday, have heightened tensions at a time when most ASEAN members continue to prioritize regional stability.

Equally contentious have been the repeated attempts by those Philippine politicians to link the COC negotiations to an unlawful "arbitral award". If they are genuine in their claim that they seek ASEAN's "collective welfare", they should call on Washington to handle the Middle East crisis with reason, restraint and pragmatism — especially as energy shortages continue to plague the Philippines and its fellow ASEAN members alike.

China's engagement with ASEAN offers a different model. As ASEAN's largest trading partner and the first country to establish a free trade agreement with the organization, China has steadily deepened economic integration with ASEAN and upgraded the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. Bilateral trade reached 7.55 trillion yuan ($1.06 trillion) in 2025, up 8 percent from the previous year. Over 95 percent of traded goods between them now enjoy zero tariffs, while cooperation has expanded to encompass the digital economy, green development, advanced manufacturing and regional connectivity.

Beijing does not ask ASEAN countries to choose sides. Nor is the development of China-ASEAN relations directed against any third party. Instead, China supports ASEAN centrality and strategic autonomy, recognizing that regional prosperity hinges on openness, inclusiveness and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Even with the Philippines, China has shown restraint and composure. Despite their maritime dispute, China has not allowed that to define the entirety of the China-Philippines ties, and has consistently called for dialogue to resolve it. Wang's discussions with his Philippine counterpart offered a timely chance for the two sides to manage tensions and prevent the situation in relevant waters from further escalating.

The South China Sea is a shared home for regional countries, and the dispute should not become a stumbling block to China-ASEAN relations. China is ready to work with the ASEAN members, including the Philippines, to accelerate the consultations on the COC in the South China Sea, fostering a new narrative of peace, stability, cooperation and friendship in the waters, and keeping the initiative for regional affairs firmly in the hands of regional countries.

While contemplating ASEAN's future, regional leaders should judge partners by their contribution to peace, economic opportunity and long-term regional stability. On that measure, sustained cooperation with China remains a firm foundation for ASEAN's solidarity and prosperity.