KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 — Asean can be the convening power to assist in managing the growing challenges in the evolving dynamics of the Indo-Pacific, geopolitical scientist Johan Saravanamuttu said.
However, he stressed the bloc must maintain its non-aligned and instrumentalities while dealing with a potential post-hegemonic world order in the current hybridised environment of global politics.
“Asean can take a stronger position. Now we see that in the Indo-Pacific region, issues are popping up, Asean can be a convening platform to bring in all the protagonists for greater dialogues to reduce the tensions,” Johan told Bernama after the Indo-Pacific Dialogue: The Emerging Indo-Pacific Order — Asean, Malaysia and the EU Perspectives, earlier today.
The dialogue also coincided with Asean Day, as the association celebrated its 56th anniversary.
He noted that Asean’s potential as a middle power is visible, such as in the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) and the complex overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea.
However, Johan is optimistic that Asean can be more proactive and do more in this direction.
“Asean is engaging in positive neutralism. It is not just sitting down and doing nothing. It always pushing something. It is already there, but it needs to take extra steps,” he said.
Johan who is an adjunct senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS of the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, believes Asean should also be more vocal on many major geopolitical and security issues affecting not only the region but also the world.
Echoing his sentiments is Centre for Asean Regionalism Universiti Malaya (Carum) director Rahul Mishra, who said Asean can reposition itself as a prominent and vocal actor to continue staying relevant given the many emerging non-security threats around the globe.
“For example, it can use health diplomacy as a channel by creating a robust mechanism and engaging international actors to prepare for any pandemic in the future,” he said.
Asean, formed on August 8, 1967, consists of ten members, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
— Bernama
