Kim Beng, Phar (2026) Rules-based order a strategic necessity. Free Malaysia Today, 2026 (35). pp. 1-2.
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Abstract
This article examines the importance of preserving a rules-based international order amid escalating geopolitical tensions and growing disruptions to global supply chains. Using the Strait of Hormuz crisis and its implications for Australia's fertiliser imports as a case study, it argues that contemporary security challenges are increasingly interconnected, linking maritime security, energy security, food security, and economic resilience. The analysis demonstrates how disruptions to critical trade routes can generate cascading effects on agricultural production, inflation, and regional food security across East Asia and ASEAN. Rather than viewing these challenges through a purely military lens, the article emphasises that adherence to international rules, freedom of navigation, predictable trade, and multilateral coordination constitute strategic necessities for sustaining global stability. It further highlights the importance of regional cooperation among ASEAN members, Australia, and other Indo-Pacific partners in preventing resource competition and mitigating supply-chain vulnerabilities. The article concludes that a credible rules-based order must extend beyond diplomatic rhetoric to encompass practical mechanisms for protecting maritime commons, ensuring uninterrupted commerce, and strengthening collective resilience against geopolitical shocks in an increasingly interdependent international system.
| Item Type: | Article (Electronic Media) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Rules-Based International Order; ASEAN; Indo-Pacific; Australia; East Asia; Strait of Hormuz |
| Subjects: | J Political Science > JZ International relations |
| Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button): | International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) Office of the Rector |
| Depositing User: | Dr Kim Beng Phar |
| Date Deposited: | 01 Aug 2026 12:14 |
| Last Update: | 01 Aug 2026 12:14 |
| Queue Number: | 2026-07-Q4414 |
| URI: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/130395 |
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