Entering the third decade of the 21st century,Asian regional cooperation1 is standing at a new starting point.Internally,regional cooperation has reached a plateau,which requires regional countries to make necessary policy adjustments and show greater political wisdom and resolve.2 In a wider context,regional cooperation is disturbed by several factors,including changes in regional political and economic structures,the Indo-Pacific strategy pursued by major powers,the deterioration of China-US relations and the swing mindset of small and medium-sized countries in the region.Meanwhile,new demands for cooperation from regional countries have been constantly emerging as the severe consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic,ecological degradation and climate change appear,and regional hotspots are coupled with non-traditional security threats.In this critical period of transition,Asia faces dual tensions created by the fading of cooperation discourse and the increase of cooperation demands.This article will analyze the causes behind the fading of Asian regional cooperation discourse as well as the new forms of regional cooperation under the dual tension,and explore the potential choices and approaches for China to reactivate Asian regional cooperation.
