The Impact of Trade with the Regional Hegemon, China, on ASEAN Countries by Examining Their Behavior on International Arena

This Independent Study examines how bilateral economic integration through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and a trade intensity with the regional hegemon China, have impacts on shaping the behavior of ASEAN countries. Scholars discuss that, as regional integration of ASEAN develops rapidly, the growing presence of China prompts the question about how the role of the regional hegemon is played by China and how individual ASEAN countries cope with it. Other research focuses on the influences of economic integrations and cooperative behaviors in the region. Yet to be examined by scholars is the relationship between these two variables. This study aims to fill this gap. Thus, I employ a multivariate regression analysis to examine my hypothesis: If there is an increase in the level of bilateral economic integration (FDI and Trade Index) between ASEAN countries and China, it will lead to their high dyadic cohesiveness in UNGA. The results of this study show that there is not enough support for my hypothesis. However, it also reveals that an increase in bilateral exports to the regional hegemon results in a decrease in the level of voting cohesion between two countries