TITLE:
Research on the Construction and Improvement Path of the Investment Dispute Resolution Mechanism between China and ASEAN under the RCEP Framework
AUTHORS:
Mengfan Xu
KEYWORDS:
RCEP, China-ASEAN, Investment Dispute Resolution Mechanism, ISDS, Progressive Reform
JOURNAL NAME:
Beijing Law Review,
Vol.17 No.2,
June
26,
2026
ABSTRACT: Under the framework of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the investment dispute resolution mechanism between China and ASEAN is confronted with multiple challenges such as insufficient institutional supply, fragmented rules, and operational obstacles. Its underlying causes are deeply rooted in the complex interweaving of the “ASEAN Way” tradition, negotiation interest games, and the differentiated development levels of member states. This paper compares the institutional characteristics and application boundaries of CPTPP’s progressive judicialization, ICSID’s efficiency reform, the EU’s investment court model, and ASEAN’s local experience, and proposes a general approach of “progressive-diversified-balanced”: focusing on coordinating the conflict rules of RCEP with bilateral investment agreements, strengthening the functions of the joint committee; constructing a diversified dispute resolution system centered on an investment mediation center, improving cooperation in industry dispute prevention and adjudication implementation; exploring flexible ISDS clauses and regional appeal review mechanisms. The research breaks through the traditional binary analysis framework of “all or nothing” for ISDS, providing specific path references for the negotiations of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 version and the deep implementation of RCEP.