The reality of ASEAN's centrality

AWANI

As leaders gather for the 46th ASEAN Summit, we speak to analyst Dr. Azmi Hassan to unpack whether ASEAN centrality still holds weight or is merely symbolic amid rising global tensions.

Transcript

00:00In a world increasingly fractured, ASEAN continues to champion the principle of neutrality.

00:06But is that claim still credible?

00:08Or has ASEAN's relevance been diluted by internal divisions, external pressures,

00:13and a failure to act decisively on key issues?

00:16As leaders gather for the 46th ASEAN Summit, we ask,

00:19is ASEAN truly steering the region or simply staying afloat?

00:23We speak to geopolitical analysts and fellow of the National Council of Professors, Dr Azmi Hassan.

00:31Well, one thing for sure, it is not an easy task to adopt both centrality and also to adopt neutrality at the same time,

00:41especially for ASEAN with 10 members, which are so diverse when we are talking about their relationship

00:48with the competing superpowers, China and also the United States.

00:54But again, if we look at Malaysia, for example, it's not about rhetoric, it's not about on paper only,

01:03but again, Malaysia has demonstrated that we can be neutral and also we can be involved in a lot of other things.

01:11For example, we received President Xi Jinping a few weeks ago and after that, Prime Minister Dato' Sri Anwar went to Moscow to meet Mr. Putin.

01:25So I guess this kind of neutrality shown by the chairman of the ASEAN can be adopted at the ASEAN level,

01:37since ASEAN, most of them, its agenda, its direction is brought forward by the chairman itself,

01:48whether what the chairman will do.

01:50So for this, I think, for both neutrality and also centrality for ASEAN, it's not rhetoric.

01:57Malaysia can drive ASEAN towards adopting both of this particular strategy.

02:05Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:06Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:07Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:08Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:09Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:10Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:11Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:12Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:13Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:14Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:15Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:16Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:17Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:18Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:19Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:20Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:21Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:22Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:23Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:24Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:25Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:26Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:27Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

02:28Malaysia can drive ASEAN.

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