2 - Bring the China back in the Asian Century: Asianization of Asia, Chinese-style Asianization, and Globalizing China

This study examines how to conceptualize China's role and function in the increasingly interconnected Asia, amid the heightened global interest in the rise of Asia. The "Asianization of Asia" is a concept that substantiates fundamental changes in the internal relationships and modes of connectivity among diverse ethnic, social, national, cultural, and economic groups in Asia. Asia is undergoing a systematic transformation, transcending arbitrary geographical and administrative categories derived from Western-centric perceptions and hegemonic influences. This evolution is marked by a rapid increase in internal interactions and mobility across various domains such as industry, finance, population, society, culture, and the environment.

China's ascent raises critical questions about the relationship between the Asianization and "Chinese-style Asianization." China's rise serves as a pivotal driving force of the ongoing Asianization, while simultaneously causing concerns as it signifies the expansion of China's political and economic influence across the entire Asian region, often referred to as "Sinicization." Interestingly, within the rapid expansion of China's influence, there is a concurrent intensification of the global trend towards Asianization.

For instance, in the peripheries of the Chinese-speaking world, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore, efforts are being made to enhance amicable exchanges and cooperation with other Asian countries to respond to China's increasing influence. This paper carefully examines how "Globalizing China" can contribute to the integration and mutual prosperity of Asia while underscoring the imperative need for exploration in the context of the "New Asia," which includes China.