ASEAN can help keep regional balanceBy Nigel Li 李澤霖Great power competition is expected to only continue to increase frictions along geopolitical fault lines. Caught between China and the US, no other regional organization recognizes this more acutely than ASEAN. “ASEAN centrality is not a panacea,” ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn said, but it is something that can be used to help deal with current and upcoming challenges. CRISIS MANAGEMENTThe problem remains that external powers might misunderstand the interests of ASEAN states. DIALOGUEDespite the challenges that Southeast Asian nations face, ASEAN continues to matter as it remains the key platform for regional cooperation.
