ASSESSING CHINA’S FOREIGN POLICY TO SOUTH EAST ASIA: THE COVID19 VACCINE AND THE SOUTH CHINA SEA ISSUES

. International relation is about the interaction between state actors. Doing so relates to the foreign policy owned by the state actor. To execute foreign policy, there are four dimensions of foreign policy instruments, namely diplomacy, information, military and economy under the realism paradigm. Using the research methodology by doing literature study and descriptive analysis in qualitative research, this writing will make use of relevant sources related to the issue. The argumentation arouses in this writing will provide the picture of how China’s foreign policy to ASEAN to pursue its global initiative through the dimension of diplomacy, and military. Thus, through the question on how the reflection of China’s foreign policy to ASEAN, the finding obtained in this writing is that China’s vaccine intention towards ASEAN is reflecting China’s foreign policy, but China’s aggressive activity, is not reflected China’s foreign policy. It is something outside. Taking the cases of the COVID19 vaccine and China’s activity in the South China Sea will give a brief perspective to understand the implementation of China’s foreign policy to ASEAN.


Between the Vaccine Diplomacy and the Nine-dash Line Unilateral Claimant
The implementation of foreign policy can be categorized from the four instruments of foreign policy, namely diplomacy, information, military and economy. Since the instruments have a different context, however, it will be intertwining in practice. From the perspective realism, state actors, power competition, self-help strategy, national interest, the world disorder, and the balance of power remain important aspects in international politics (Manan, 2017, p. 176), and it practically appears in the foreign policy. Thus, the writing will raise the inquiry on how does China pursue its global policy through the COVID19 vaccine commitment and the hegemony in the South China Sea?
Referring to the instruments of foreign policy, the scope discussion will only address the aspects of diplomacy and military to delineate the contexts of soft power and hard power approaches. It is interesting to find out the reason why China does these two approaches simultaneously. On one hand, China is performing an aggressive activity in the South China Sea which raises big protests from most ASEAN countries, on the other hand, this country inclusively helps and supports the COVID19 handling to most ASEAN countries as well. Referring to Bojang's (2018), his elaboration to the various notions about foreign policy has come up with the understanding of two factors that considerably influence to the determination and implementation of foreign policy. The implementation of foreign policy has three concepts to explain the relationship between countries regarding the outside event and situation, namely foreign policy as a cluster of orientation, a set of commitments to and a plan or action, and a form of behavior (Perwita, 2017, pp. 53-54).
It is manifested through the instruments of diplomacy, information, military, and economy. In addition, foreign policy can be defined as "all actions of a government against other countries in international politics, based on a set of assumptions and certain goals, and intended to ensure national security" (Ikbar, 2014, p. 208). It determines how the attitude and intentions of a country towards other countries in building cooperative relations.

China's Foreign Policy
In this context, it would be useful to review the writing from scholar Tung-Chieh  five guidelines of regional cooperation, to resolve residual historical problems in Southeast Asia through negotiations  great power as key, neighboring states as priority, it has strengthened its regional leadership role (Tsai, 2008) According to the three guidelines, it can be derived in one main idea that China policy is basically to emphasize peacebuilding in China's surroundings. It seems that China wants to be a great country but at the same time needs to ensure the stability of its region and surroundings. Thus, this idea is in line with the context of BRI initiative. At a glance, BRI appears to provide more benefit for countries within it, in the form of facilitation for infrastructure development, renovation of ports which is beneficial in terms of sustainable development (Haetami, 2019, p. 51  soft power, China increase the use of soft power as the approach to build cooperation with ASEAN. The manifestation of this approach is, for example, the promotion of social-cultural exchange and encouraging capacity building.
Undoubtedly, China has a great contribution to the development of ASEAN from the economic and socio-cultural aspects. As one of ASEAN's important dialogue partners, the commitment to build regional peace and stability is a priority for both. As mentioned earlier, in the COVID19 pandemic situation, China has committed to supporting the availability of vaccines for ASEAN countries. indeed, this contribution gives an impact in tackling the pandemic to build ASEAN resilience regarding this health issue. However, despite this mutual cooperation, China's aggressive behavior and activities in the South China Sea have damaged the good perception that has been built so far.

Research Methodology
This writing uses a literature study to analyse the issue. By conducting a descriptive analytical method, the writing would like to figure out China's policy towards ASEAN regarding current situation in the South China Sea. Data and information collected are obtained from the relevant journals, books, and sites to strengthen the analysis and argumentations. In the analysis, it will try to compare the China's foreign policy derived from the reviewed journal above to the current real situation regarding China's aggression in the South China Sea and vaccines procurement for ASEAN states.
Eventually, the result will come up with the viewpoint of China's intention in the region.

Result and Discussion
To some extent, the practice of international politics today is still in accordance with the principles of realism (Manan, 2017, p. 176). Realist sees that the interaction between state actors is relating to the power competition for the will to survive and dominate other countries. It can be achieved by utilizing soft and hard power approaches in the interaction. Joseph Nye (1990) defined soft power as an ability to shape the wants of others or the ability to influence the behavior without applying coercive or hard-power, indeed, it is the ability to change what others do (Nye, 2008, pp. 100-101). On the other hand, hard power is defined similarly with soft power except the way to influence other is by utilizing armed forces or military might. The power itself can be defined in terms of economic, military, and cultural power; they will change over time (Burchill, 2005, p. 36).
As the world's current emerging power, China has utilized its power through the utilization of those foreign policy instruments to show its capability for dealing with the COVID19 outbreak and dominating its role in the South China Sea.

The Perspective of Diplomacy
This instrument prioritizes coordination and consultation in dealing with an issue.
In the context of ASEAN and China, the role of ASEAN as a collective power in the

The Perspective of Military
The current trend to use military might is contextually increase. Since China's claim in the South China Sea, it has generated several reactions from other state actors. The  territory. However, the reality is not on the same page with China.

Conclusion
In the conceptions of foreign policy, the interaction between states in the framework of international relations requires the state strategy to fulfil the national interest. The manifestation of the interaction between states is commonly known as the form of cooperation. Doing so is in line with the realism that the state as the actor of international relations, must define and impose a particular foreign policy in conducting interaction.
Although the foreign policy has several manifestations in the implementation of international relations, it is back to the context of four dimensions, namely diplomacy, information, military, and economy.
Based on the analysis from the instruments of diplomacy and military, it is indeed China uses soft and hard power approaches in conducting its foreign policy to ASEAN. what can be assumed is that China's hegemony in the South China Sea consists of two ideas, first, ensuring the success of the BRI by using force, and is supported by the soft power shown through the vaccine which aims to reduce protests against China from ASEAN countries; two, as a strong country, China is free to do anything, including aggression, even though it will invite condemnation. There would be a shift in China's foreign policy to ASEAN with the use of armed forces.

Acknowledgment
In this nice moment, the author would like to greatly thank to God Almighty for His blessing for the author may write this article, and humble thankfulness also to Prof.
AA. Banyu Perwita for his lectures and insight shared to the author, hence this writing can be made. Author believes that this writing needs still more improvement and hopes it can be a reference for further writing.