In fact, the idea is really to engage with the
Chinese and not to keep them out. In this instance, according to Denny Ray
(2005), the hedgers include Malaysia and Vietnam. Thailand appears to opt for
simple hedging. What this means is to maintain a balance between a desire for a
visible presence of the USA in the region and at the same time playing off China
with the USA. For Vietnam in particular, as pointed out by Alexander L. Vuving
(2006), her China policy in the future will be guided by a combination of
strategies quite similar to the ones discussed above, namely, balancing, deference,
and enmeshment. Enmeshment also sums up the current ASEAN position in
managing its relations with China.