Asean’s balancing act in an era of US-China rivalry

Free Malaysia Today

Analysts say Asean must adapt to a shifting global order by diversifying partnerships and resisting pressure to align too closely with any one superpower.   Read More:  https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2025/06/05/aseans-balancing-act-in-an-era-of-us-china-rivalry  Laporan Lanjut:  https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2025/06/05/langkah-seimbang-asean-era-persaingan-as-china  Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5 Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Download FMT News App: Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46 App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP  #FMTNews #ASEAN #US #China #GlobalTrade #InclusivityAndSustainability

Transcript

00:00As tensions between the U.S. and China shape everything from global trade, technology and security,

00:07ASEAN is working to navigate shifting power dynamics and strains on global cooperation.

00:13Here in Kuala Lumpur, where leaders have gathered for the 46th ASEAN Summit,

00:18those challenges are front and center, from economic resilience to digital cooperation and regional stability.

00:30On one hand, ASEAN relies heavily on U.S. investment and access to Western markets.

00:48On the other, it's deeply tied to China through trade and supply chains.

00:53Hence, for Dennis Hu, a senior fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy,

00:57ASEAN's complicated ties with the two superpowers mean that the bloc's room for neutrality is shrinking fast.

01:04With China's economic influence expanding and U.S. protectionism hardening,

01:09institutions like the World Trade Organization and UN, once anchors of global cooperation, are being undermined.

01:18Without stronger internal cohesion, Hu warns, ASEAN risks being shaped by outside powers instead of shaping its own future.

01:26Economist Jeffrey Sachs, a professor at Columbia University, sees the global order moving toward multipolarity.

01:34And in that world, blocs like ASEAN won't just be caught in the middle, they could be key players.

01:41Sachs argues that ASEAN shouldn't be forced to pick sides.

01:44Instead, global powers need to learn to work with it.

01:48Tricia Yeo of the University of Nottingham, Malaysia, says ASEAN must rethink its ties with Washington while avoiding leaning too heavily on Beijing.

01:58That means building stronger ties with other regions, including the EU, Africa and Latin America, to reduce vulnerability and boost resilience.

02:08ASEAN, for its part, is trying to avoid being boxed in.

02:13Recent steps, like the ASEAN Gulf Cooperation Council-China Summit, reflect a deliberate strategy to broaden partnerships and keep its options open.

02:23But this shift signals something deeper.

02:26ASEAN is not just watching from the sidelines, but is reaffirming its centrality and leadership.

02:32This approach has deep roots.

02:35Back in 1971, ASEAN adopted the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality, or ZOPFAN, declaring its intent to stay free from Cold War rivalries.

02:46Half a century later, that vision feels as relevant as ever.

02:50As Sachs puts it, ZOPFAN still matters, saying that staying open without being pulled into global conflict might just be ASEAN's greatest strength.

03:00ASEAN is walking a tightrope, but it is not powerless.

03:05If it can deepen internal ties and stay the course, Hugh says ASEAN could become a US$4 trillion economic powerhouse by 2030, the fourth largest block in the world.

03:17But in a world demanding clear alignments, ASEAN's balancing act will only get harder and more important than ever.

03:25Hanakam, FMT.

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