A Study on Interaction Between Mainland ASEAN States and China After the Cold War—Centered on the GMS Mechanism

The Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation (GMS) is a key focus for integrating the regional economy of Southeast Asia and an important clue for studying regional integration in Southeast Asia. This paper aims to explain the causal mechanism behind the development of the GMS, that is, why GMS has been able to withstand the systemic stimuli of different eras and continue to play a role, expand the scope of cooperation, and promote regional integration in Southeast Asia while effectively addressing the development gaps and conflicts of interest among its member countries. This paper traces the development process of the GMS mechanism in different periods and backgrounds, and finds that the degree of economic interdependence, political mutual trust, and the development of ASEAN norms among member countries within the GMS have an impact on their internal cognition and decision-making, thus injecting impetus into the development of the GMS mechanism.