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Great Power rivalry threatens ‘ASEAN Centrality’ in the Indo-Pacific | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Great Power rivalry threatens ‘ASEAN Centrality’ in the Indo-Pacific

Posted 07 Aug 2025

2 min read

The ongoing power rivalry and tariff wars in the Indo-Pacific region threaten to divide the region into different blocs and increased polarization.

What is ‘ASEAN Centrality’?

  • It rests on the assumption that the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) should be the driver behind “the evolving regional architecture of the Indo-Pacific”.
  • It emerged in the backdrop of collapse of the Soviet Union when regional countries experienced immense uncertainty surrounding the US’ reduced military presence in the region, the possible remilitarisation of Japan, China's rise, and other security issues.
  • It has also been emphasized in India’s vision for free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific as enunciated by India’s Prime Minister at Shangri La Dialogue (2018).

Threats to ‘ASEAN Centrality’

  • US-China Cold War: Threatens to splinter ASEAN due to members' varied relationships with Beijing and Washington, and making cooperation on ASEAN-based platforms difficult.
  • Weakened International Architecture: US-China Cold War has undermined cooperative, ASEAN-centred formats such as the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
  • US Tariffs: Tariffs are destabilizing the international trading system that ASEAN relies upon, generating tensions and leading to disunity among ASEAN members on trade responses.

Approaches to Shore up ASEAN Centrality

  • Strengthen ASEAN Internally: Greater consolidation, improved crisis response mechanisms, more avenues for non-consensual decision making and a greater willingness to address contentious security issues.
  • Cooperation with Like-Minded Partners: Engage with partners like the European Union (EU), Australia, etc., who aim to avoid entanglement in the US-China rivalry.
  • Engage India: India is a natural partner, sharing ASEAN’s interest in enhancing regional trade, increasing economic diversification, and promoting regional stability.
  • Revise Existing Agreements: To consider upgrading Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and encouraging more members to join Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
  • Tags :
  • East Asia Summit
  • ASEAN Centrality
  • Shangri La Dialogue
  • ASEAN Regional Forum
  • Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
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