After the Asian financial crisis, the relationship between China and ASEAN has been strengthened; meanwhile, the influence of U.S. in Southeast Asia has been gradually decreased. The rise of China challenges status quo in the region. According to the Neo-realism, national interests depend on national power to put into effect. China and U.S. compete through cooperation with ASEAN in political, economical, traditional and untraditional security and sub-region fields which shape the new order in Southeast Asia. This thesis is divided into five parts and the conclusion of analysis could be as the policy recommendation for the government of R.O.C.¡¦s decision making on Southeast Asia policy.

The focus of this research is the relationship between economic cooperation and security regime in the East Asia based on the theory of neo-functionalism. After the Cold War, the economic cooperation in the East Asia become deeper, meanwhile, the North Korea's nuclear problem is still the hotspot in the East Asia. In the process of cooperation in the East Asia, the relationship between economic cooperation and security regime is complementary, which could solve the North Korea's nuclear problem. The process and frame of the relationship between economic cooperation and security regime in the East Asia, will be analyzed in this thesis for offering the government¡¦s decision-making about the possibility of Taiwan¡¦s engagement in the regional cooperation in East Asia.