<h5 id="overview">OVERVIEW</h5> <ul> <li>The end of the bipolar structure in the early 1990s led to the emergence of alternative centers of political and economic power.</li> <li>In Europe, the European Union (EU) has evolved as a significant force, providing regional solutions to historical enmities and transforming the region into a prosperous economy.</li> <li>In Asia, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has developed alternative institutions and conventions, fostering a more peaceful and cooperative regional order.</li> <li>The economic rise of China has significantly influenced world politics, emerging as a potential center of power.</li> <li>The EU, ASEAN, and China are expected to play significant roles in the future, providing alternative solutions and shaping the global order.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="european-union">European Union</h5> <ul> <li>The European Union (EU) was formed in the aftermath of World War II, with the goal of promoting economic and political cooperation among European states.</li> <li>The EU has evolved over time, starting with the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951, and leading to the creation of the European Economic Community in 1957. The EU has since expanded to include 28 member states.</li> <li>The EU has its own flag, anthem, and currency (the Euro), and has sought to act more like a nation state. However, attempts to create a Constitution for the EU have failed.</li> <li>The EU has significant economic and political influence, with a GDP of over $17 trillion in 2016, and is the world’s second largest economy. The EU also has military influence, with combined armed forces that are the second largest in the world.</li> <li>The EU has faced challenges in its integrationist agenda, with some member states, such as Britain, Denmark, and Sweden, resisting the adoption of the Euro and other measures. There is also a deep-seated Euro-skepticism in some parts of Europe, which limits the EU’s ability to act in matters of foreign relations and defense.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="association-of-south-east-asian-nations-asean">Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)</h5> <ul> <li> <p>ASEAN was established in 1967 by five Southeast Asian countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand) to accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development, and to promote regional peace.</p> </li> <li> <p>Over the years, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Myanmar (Burma), and Cambodia have joined ASEAN, making its current membership ten. ASEAN operates on the principles of respect for national sovereignty and non-confrontational cooperation.</p> </li> <li> <p>In 2003, ASEAN agreed to establish the ASEAN Community, comprising three pillars: the ASEAN Security Community, the ASEAN Economic Community, and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. ASEAN’s economy is growing faster than the US, the EU, and Japan, making it an influential player in the region and beyond.</p> </li> <li> <p>ASEAN’s economic objectives include creating a common market and production base and improving the ASEAN Dispute Settlement Mechanism. It has focused on establishing Free Trade Areas (FTA) for investment, labour, and services. The US and China have already negotiated FTAs with ASEAN.</p> </li> <li> <p>ASEAN has mediated the resolution of conflicts in the region, such as the Cambodian conflict and the East Timor crisis, and encourages negotiation over conflicts. It has a vision of an outward-looking role in the international community, which builds on its existing policy of conflict mediation.</p> </li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="the-rise-of-the-chinese-economy">The Rise of the Chinese Economy</h5> <ul> <li>China’s economic success since 1978 has been significant, making it the fastest growing economy with an annual growth rate of 5-6%.</li> <li>The Chinese leadership in the 1970s made major policy decisions to end political and economic isolation, leading to the ‘four modernizations’ and the ‘open door’ policy.</li> <li>The privatization of agriculture in 1982 and industry in 1998, coupled with the elimination of trade barriers in Special Economic Zones, led to a remarkable rise in agricultural production, rural incomes, and foreign trade.</li> <li>China’s economic growth has led to considerable influence in regional affairs and with trade partners, mitigating fears of its rise and enabling it to resolve differences through economic integration.</li> <li>Despite the dramatic improvement in the Chinese economy, unemployment, female employment conditions, environmental degradation, corruption, and economic inequality remain significant issues.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="india---china-relations">India - China Relations</h5> <ul> <li> <p>India and China were once influential powers in Asia, but had limited political and cultural interaction due to their spheres of influence rarely overlapping.</p> </li> <li> <p>After independence, both nations faced difficulties evolving a foreign policy towards each other, leading to a border conflict in 1962. Diplomatic relations were downgraded until 1976, but have improved since then.</p> </li> <li> <p>With the end of the Cold War, India-China relations have taken on a strategic and economic dimension, with both nations viewing themselves as rising powers in global politics.</p> </li> <li> <p>Agreements on cultural exchanges and cooperation in science and technology have been signed, and bilateral trade has grown significantly since 1999.</p> </li> <li> <p>Recent issues such as border disputes and China’s support of Pakistan in the UN have caused a downslide in relations, but increasing transportation and communication links, common economic interests, and global concerns aim to establish a more positive relationship.</p> </li> </ul> <p>Reference(s): India - China Relations</p> <p>======</p>