Phar, Kim Beng (2026) ASEAN must adapt to an age of geopolitical turmoil. Free Malaysia Today, 2026 (38). pp. 1-3.
|
PDF
- Published Version
Download (527kB) | Preview |
Abstract
This article examines how ASEAN can remain strategically relevant amid an increasingly volatile geopolitical environment characterised by intensifying great-power rivalry, military modernisation, and disruptions to the global economic order. Using Japan’s evolving defence posture as a central case study, it argues that Tokyo’s relaxation of long-standing restrictions on defence exports reflects a broader transformation in the Indo-Pacific security architecture rather than an isolated national policy shift. The discussion analyses how developments in the South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, the Korean Peninsula, and conflicts extending from Ukraine to the Middle East are reshaping the strategic calculations of Southeast Asian states. It further explores how regional powers, including Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, are strengthening defence partnerships while maintaining strategic autonomy. The article contends that ASEAN centrality must evolve from a predominantly diplomatic principle into a more operational framework capable of supporting defence cooperation, technological resilience, maritime security, and crisis management. It concludes that ASEAN's long-term credibility depends on its ability to adapt institutionally to a more contested Indo-Pacific while preserving an inclusive regional order based on dialogue, strategic balance, and international law.
| Item Type: | Article (Electronic Media) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | ASEAN ASEAN Centrality; Geopolitical Turmoil; Indo-Pacific; Japan; Defence Modernisation; Defence Diplomacy |
| 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 12:23 |
| Last Update: | 01 Aug 2026 12:23 |
| Queue Number: | 2026-07-Q4418 |
| URI: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/130399 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |