---
title: "China warns ASEAN not to use US-China rivalry for quick advantage"
date: 2026-03-28
author: ""
url: https://panamadaily.news/asean-warned-not-exploit-us-china-tensions/
categories:
  - "Politics"
  - "World"
tags:
  - "ASEAN"
  - "Boao Forum for Asia"
  - "China foreign policy"
  - "South China Sea"
  - "US-China rivalry"
---

# China warns ASEAN not to use US-China rivalry for quick advantage

A prominent Chinese political scientist urged Southeast Asian countries to avoid exploiting US-China tensions for short-term gains, warning that such a strategy could backfire—especially as regional disputes in the South China Sea intersect with great-power competition.

## What Happened

Speaking on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia on Friday, Zheng Yongnian, dean of the School of Public Policy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, cautioned against a “short-term gain” approach during the intensifying US-China rivalry.

Zheng said the “key challenge” for regional states is how they interpret and respond to the China-US contest, noting that the issue is closely tied to South China Sea sovereignty disputes.

His remarks framed the US-China tension not simply as a distant geopolitical rivalry, but as a factor that influences how Southeast Asian countries make decisions on territorial issues and diplomatic alignment.

## Background

The Boao Forum for Asia is a major regional platform where leaders, policymakers, and academics discuss Asia’s economic and geopolitical outlook. Zheng’s comments came as South China Sea tensions remain a central regional flashpoint, with multiple Southeast Asian claimants and China disputing sovereignty and maritime rights.

Against that backdrop, US-China competition has become increasingly prominent in the strategic thinking of countries across Southeast Asia. For some governments, balancing security concerns, economic opportunities, and diplomatic relationships can create incentives to pursue policies that seek near-term benefits while managing long-term risks.

Zheng’s warning implies that such calculations—particularly when linked to sovereignty disputes—may be unstable. The core message is that ASEAN states must consider how their actions could be interpreted through the lens of the China-US rivalry, and how that could alter the risks they face.

## Why It Matters

Zheng’s comments highlight a broader challenge for Southeast Asia: great-power competition is not limited to military or economic rivalry in isolation; it can directly shape negotiating positions and regional dynamics, especially in areas like the South China Sea.

If Southeast Asian countries are viewed as attempting to “play” the rivalry for advantage, that could harden positions on sovereignty-related issues and raise uncertainty for diplomacy. The risk of miscalculation is particularly acute in the South China Sea, where overlapping claims and heightened sensitivities make outcomes difficult to predict.

While the remark is addressed to ASEAN, its significance extends beyond Southeast Asia because the South China Sea is a crucial maritime space for international trade. Policy choices affecting the rivalry can influence shipping confidence, regional stability, and broader economic conditions that matter to many countries, including those in Latin America that rely on global trade flows.

For Panama and the region, the underlying theme—how smaller states manage relationships amid major power competition—remains relevant. Panama’s strategic role in global logistics means that disruptions or instability anywhere along major maritime routes can have downstream effects on costs, shipping patterns, and the predictability of international commerce.

In that sense, the warning from a leading Chinese policy academic is also a signal about how regional actors may be pressured to choose interpretations and approaches that will be scrutinized by both Washington and Beijing.