This paper explains why ASEAN and China can cooperate on non-traditional aspects of security although their traditional security aspects are characterized by differing amity and enmity patterns. The explanations that are offered in this paper are two-fold. First, both ASEAN and China perceive non-traditional security issues as the sources of insecurity to the legitimacy of the state. Secondly, both ASEAN and China wish to maintain a close diplomatic relation comprising of both political-economy and political-security aspects. A new question emerges from this exercise: can non-traditional security cooperation side-step ASEAN-China’ traditional security issues or create a spill-over effect that solve them? The answer that is offered here is probably not. The intention of both parties in pursuing non-traditional security have differed. ASEAN member-states wish to contain their overall bilateral cooperation with China from the traditional security concerns, notably the territorial dispute in South China Sea. China wish to maintain a reason for a presence in Southeast Asia through facilitating cooperation on non-traditional security matters. None of these intentions actually respond the traditional security aspect.