Reference News website reported on May 20 that the website of Hong Kong's South China Morning Post published an article titled "China and ASEAN Must Bridge the Trust Deficit to Coordinate Security Interests" on May 13. The author is Asma Khalid. The full text is excerpted as follows: In April this year, Beijing outlined a new security concept at a meeting discussing its surrounding diplomacy. This framework echoes the statement that "Asia's affairs ultimately have to be handled by the Asian people themselves." China described itself as a stable partner committed to opposing external forces' 'unilateral hegemonic acts' and defending the stability of Asia's common home. The diplomatic signals sent by Beijing also echo the ambition of its global security initiative - that is, "upholding common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security concepts," and striving to resolve disputes through peaceful dialogue. Over the past few years, China has always advocated transcending adversarial bloc politics. Through its global security initiative and diplomatic interactions with ASEAN, Beijing is dismantling the concept of exclusive camps and promoting the establishment of regional mechanisms for managing disputes through peaceful consultations. China has repeatedly stated that it does not seek hegemony, advocates resolving disputes through bilateral consultations, and opposes external forces' interference. China acknowledges ASEAN's central position and actively participates in the consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. The real issue is not what China says but the lingering trust deficit caused by historical grievances and the pressure brought by China's growing influence on other countries. However, this trust gap is not insurmountable. In such a complex region as Southeast Asia, building trust requires efforts from both sides. Just as China is required to clarify its strategic intentions and respect the sovereignty of neighboring countries, ASEAN must also guard against excessive reliance on external forces to avoid exacerbating regional bloc formation. Strengthening defense cooperation with the United States may seem like a cautious balancing act, but it risks turning Southeast Asia into a battleground for great power competition. Moreover, through projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway under the Belt and Road Initiative, China's economic interdependence with ASEAN continues to deepen. These collaborations are not just about influence; they represent interest bonds for regional development. The key question is how to turn them into broader trust foundations in the security field. In this regard, Cambodia provides an example. Cambodia's engagement with China has not hindered its welcome of other partners. In fact, this shows that China's support can coexist with broader regional cooperation. This is precisely the meaning of a mature and inclusive security architecture. In such a framework, no country occupies a dominant position. For China, it can enhance mutual trust and dispel doubts by further participating in multilateral exercises and dialogue mechanisms. Southeast Asian countries must clarify their strategic intentions. If all parties maintain clear policies, the risk of misjudgment can be minimized - regional distrust often stems from unclear requirements for sovereignty, alliance relationships, and strategic intentions. The China-ASEAN dialogue mechanism remains the best platform to institutionalize this shared responsibility. (Translated by Yang Xueli) Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7506445084285354522/ Disclaimer: The article represents the views of the author alone. Please express your opinions by clicking the "like/dislike" buttons below.