ASEAN Must Remain Steward Of Its Own Destiny As It Charts The Future

By Voon Miaw Ping

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 (Bernama) -- ASEAN must remain the steward of its own destiny as it charts the future, analysts say, with the bloc increasingly asserting its role on the global stage.

They noted that Malaysia's 2025 Chairmanship has strengthened ASEAN's credibility and influence, bolstering the bloc's principles of centrality, neutrality, and collective action.

ASEAN's balanced, non-aligned diplomatic posture positions it as a key actor amid an increasingly fragmented global order, reinforcing its role as a driver of peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.

The 47th ASEAN Summit marked the conclusion of a pivotal year for Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship, delivering several landmark achievements, notably the accession of Timor-Leste as the bloc’s 11th member – the first expansion in 26 years – a milestone that is widely regarded as completing the geographical representation of a region encompassing over 700 million people. 

ASEAN leaders also adopted the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, a continuation of an ambitious policy that serves as a blueprint aimed at deepening regional integration and building a more prosperous, resilient shared future.

This year further witnessed ASEAN deepen its engagement with the Global South, underscoring the region's growing relevance and expanding diplomatic reach.

Among other highlights was Malaysia's hosting of the inaugural ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-China summit in May, which strongly reflected ASEAN's agility and strategic foresight in addressing shifting geoeconomic challenges. 

ASEAN's strengthened global profile was further reflected in the participation of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the 47th ASEAN Summit and related summits in October, as well as the accession of Algeria, Uruguay, and Finland to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).

For nearly six decades, ASEAN’s steadfast commitment to centrality and its regional security framework has helped to preserve Southeast Asia as a zone of peace and growth, guiding its role in global affairs.

And under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's stewardship, Malaysia has drawn renewed global attention to the dynamism of the regional bloc, positioning ASEAN as a high-calibre, independent and inclusive actor amid an increasingly fragmented global order.

An analyst on international affairs, Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub from Universiti Malaya, said Malaysia's chairmanship has bolstered the strategic relevance of the now 11-member regional bloc, elevating its credibility on the global stage. 

He noted that the engagement of world leaders with ASEAN – including representatives from the United States, China, the United Nations, and the Global South – reflects broad recognition of the bloc's balanced and non-aligned diplomatic stance.

That said, he emphasised that it is vital for ASEAN to be firm in safeguarding its principle of centrality and neutrality.

"I believe ASEAN can continue to remain neutral. Today, we see Malaysia, as the Chair of ASEAN, successfully positioning the organisation as a political fulcrum between the Western and Eastern blocs.

"In fact, world leaders respect ASEAN and recognise ASEAN's neutral position. This principle of neutrality has been enshrined in the ASEAN Charter, but it must be strengthened and demonstrated by each member state throughout their term as Chair of ASEAN," he told Bernama.

Regarding Myanmar, he said Malaysia's tenure as the rotating Chair saw ASEAN make gradual progress in the peace efforts.

In late October, Anwar was reported as saying that ongoing ASEAN efforts, including a series of meetings and dialogues with Myanmar’s leaders, have succeeded in reducing the number of violent incidents across several regions.

"Moreover, Prime Minister Anwar has never sidelined the issue of Myanmar from his attention, and the country is still involved in various ASEAN activities, including in the Summits," he said. 

Tawfik believed that ASEAN should play a more active role in the process and help Myanmar implement political reforms in line with the Five-Point Consensus. 

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), Datuk Prof Mohd Faiz Abdullah, said Malaysia's chairmanship has been a significant success, concurring that it has well-positioned ASEAN to be a more influential voice on the global stage.

Speaking to Bernama recently, he noted that ASEAN, projected to become the world's fourth-largest economic bloc by 2030, has the substantive critical mass to assert itself if it continues to uphold the principle of centrality and works collectively and cohesively.

"Another key principle is that members must support one another without marginalising those in need,” he said.

Faiz noted that this aligns with the concept of 'sovereign interdependence' introduced by Anwar.

The Prime Minister, during a lecture at Tianjin University in China in September, said the approach emphasises that a country can preserve its sovereignty while staying open to one another in partnerships and cooperation to promote global stability and peace, and build a more resilient shared future.

"The big idea is that a nation or bloc, no matter its size, should feel secure and not be overpowered by a larger power economically or militarily. I believe this is a fantastic principle for maintaining long-term stability," Faiz said.

With a vibrant and youthful population and a robust economy, ASEAN's potential as an emerging economic and strategic powerhouse is immense.

As it moves forward, ASEAN must continue to chart a future defined by its visions and values, shaping a destiny that fosters growth and unity within the region and beyond. 

Formed on August 8, 1967, ASEAN has today grown to include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Timor-Leste, Thailand, and Vietnam.

-- BERNAMA