Inserting ASEAN’S Role in the Dynamic of Indo-Pacific

The increasing significance of the Indo-Pacific region has driven its transformation into an arena for major powers like China and the United States to expand their influence.

The increasing significance of the Indo-Pacific region has driven its transformation into an arena for major powers like China and the United States to expand their influence. The interests of these major powers have the potential to cause conflicts that can disrupt regional stability, posing a threat to surrounding countries, including ASEAN member countries. Therefore, the involvement of ASEAN as a regional organization in Southeast Asia in maintaining regional stability becomes an intriguing topic to understand further.

Geographically, the Indo-Pacific is a space that connects the Indian and Pacific Oceans, while from a more functional understanding, the interconnection and interdependence between the two oceans are due to the increasing power of globalization, trade, and other activities, thus increasing the mobility of actors and resulting in an integrated approach between countries. In this context, the Indo-Pacific region is also known for its  rich natural resources including oil, natural gas, minerals, and fisheries, and is home to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies, thereby enhancing its strategic importance. Consequently, the Indo-Pacific region becomes one of the most dynamic areas and the center of global economic growth.

Why the Involvement of ASEAN in Indo-Pacific Matters

The transformation of the region has prompted various powerful actors to play a greater role in the area. In this regard, China plays a significant role in providing and supplying investment funds to countries in the region, including through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and non-BRI projects, 50% of which are directed to Southeast Asia. China’s increasing economic influence then raises concerns for other dominant countries in the Indo-Pacific such as the United States and Japan, leading to competition in the region.

The US-China rivalry in the Indo-Pacific region drives the securitization of the area. In this case, the securitization in the Indo-Pacific region is centered on China, which is considered a threat by other countries such as the United States. This can be seen through the US policies, in collaboration with several other countries, to form security alliances like the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (the Quad), which is seen as an attempt to counter China’s dominance and its disruption of the rule-based order in the Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, the securitization of the region can also be seen through the formation of AUKUS by Australia, the United Kingdom, and the US to enhance defense through nuclear-powered submarines. However, some parties view these alliances as potentially disrupting regional stability by increasing tensions and arms races and undermining institutions and weakening nuclear non-proliferation mechanisms.

Despite the dynamics occurring in the region, as described above, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional organization in Southeast Asia, is not involved in it. This is unfortunate because economically and politically, the Southeast Asian region is increasingly securitized, where the competition of power in the region significantly influences its member countries, for example, on the South China Sea issue.

Inserting ASEAN’s Role through AOIP

According to Dewi Fortuna Anwar (2020), to achieve the desired objectives amid complex regional conditions, the only way ASEAN can do is to play an active role in shaping them. However, to take part in the dynamics of the Indo-Pacific, it is difficult for ASEAN to accommodate all the interests of its member countries. In this case, each member country has different orientations in viewing the political and economic contestation taking place in the Indo-Pacific region. The Philippines, for instance, is openly seeking to strengthen its closeness with the US under President Marcos’ administration, which is quite different from what was previously directed by the former president Duterte. This is further driven by the tensions between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea dispute, which strengthens the bilateral security cooperation between the Philippines and the US. Meanwhile, Myanmar tends to be closer to China, as seen through various Chinese engagements in Myanmar. With diverse interests, it is difficult for ASEAN to produce a single voice in regional contestation. This is further driven by Indonesia, as the ASEAN chair, which adheres to a ‘free and active’ foreign policy principle, encouraging ASEAN to stay neutral in the regional contestation. Therefore, in the Indo-Pacific dynamics, ASEAN as a regional organization tends to play a neutral role, which can be seen through the existence of the AOIP.

The importance of the Indo-Pacific region for ASEAN can be seen through the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP). AOIP is a guideline regarding ASEAN’s view of the Indo-Pacific region, formed in response to the presence of the Quad, which is seen as a threat to regional stability. ASEAN considers the Indo-Pacific region not only as a territorial space but an integrated and connected area where ASEAN needs to play a central and strategic role. The geo-economic and geo-strategic changes in the Indo-Pacific region not only present opportunities but also challenges that can threaten regional stability. However, the biggest security threat in the Indo-Pacific region is the competition of major powers. In this case, countries like China expand their power through aggressive actions in the South China Sea and BRI projects, which become threats that the United States tries to mitigate. Therefore, this region becomes an arena of competition for two major powers, which is further exacerbated by coalition alliances.

Despite the threat mentioned, ASEAN constructs this region as an ‘area of cooperation’ rather than competition, where the position of Southeast Asia right in the middle of the Indo-Pacific region makes ASEAN a regional organization that plays a central role. In this case, ASEAN’s role in the Indo-Pacific region is to create peace and maintain stability because the conflicts and interests of great powers competing in the region can threaten the stability of the region, especially its member countries. Therefore, the principles embodied in the AOIP become an important instrument to encourage ASEAN’s involvement in regional dynamics.

In general, AOIP principles emphasize cooperation over competition, where ASEAN centrality is deemed important in resolving conflicts based on a legal framework and non-intervention. The implementation of AOIP principles is realized through strengthening ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF), and other relevant ASEAN+1 mechanisms. In this regard, ASEAN’s involvement becomes an important issue to emphasize in the Indo-Pacific regional dynamics for several reasons. First, the Southeast Asian region is part of the Indo-Pacific, and therefore threats or conflicts that occur in the region will have more impact on ASEAN member countries. This is in line with Barry Buzan’s explanation in the Regional Security Complex theory, which emphasizes regional-level threats. Second, involvement without showing bias in great power competition is the most feasible and appropriate position for ASEAN’s interests. To put it in a considered position in regional dynamics, ASEAN cannot side with one power. This is because ASEAN has long-established good cooperation with both the US and China, even making them the largest trading partners for the organization. Additionally, the diverse interests of each member country also put the organization in a difficult position in choosing a side. Indonesia’s leadership as the chair of the organization also has an important influence in directing ASEAN’s policies, reinforced by Indonesia’s ‘free and active’ policy principle. Thus, emphasizing the cooperation framework through ASEAN centrality and neutrality in AOIP principles becomes the most feasible standing position to apply as it places ASEAN in a considered position while still protecting ASEAN’s interests.

Based on the explanation above, it can be understood that the changes in the Indo-Pacific region, becoming an arena of complex political contestation, present challenges and even threats to countries in the region. The political rivalry between major powers such as the United States and China in the Indo-Pacific can affect regional stability, especially for Southeast Asian countries under ASEAN. In this context, ASEAN’s involvement in Indo-Pacific dynamics becomes crucial to maintaining regional stability and security. However, the different interests among ASEAN member countries and Indonesia’s leadership with a ‘free and active’ foreign policy make the neutral position the most feasible for ASEAN to play in the geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific. This is realized through the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), which emphasizes ASEAN centrality and neutrality. This neutral position allows ASEAN to remain involved and considered in regional dynamics while upholding ASEAN values. AOIP becomes an essential instrument for ASEAN to play a constructive and strategic role amid the competition of major powers, maintaining regional stability and security, and ensuring that the interests of member countries are accommodated. Thus, ASEAN’s neutral and central position in Indo-Pacific dynamics is key to maintaining ASEAN’s relevance and influence amidst intensifying geopolitical competition.

Aulia Rahmatin Masyhuri
Aulia Rahmatin Masyhuri
Aulia Rahmatin Masyhuri is a graduate of International Relations with an interest in diplomacy, political economy, and tourism topics.