Opinion | ASEAN leaders: Growing wary of instability in region

By Augustus K. Yeung

INTRODUCTION

Whether there will be war or peace in the Asia-Pacific depends on one key concept, "regional neutrality", I believe: If ASEAN is in a state of neutrality, the chance of it maintaining stability, or falling back into the pitfall of a new Pacific war will greatly be minimized, so I reason.

Unlike NATO, ASEAN is a non-aggression pact, consisting of 10-member states; it is important that the bloc comes to a consensual validation, airing out each's concerns and echoing the other's voice for regional peace.

In context, it is vital that there are ASEAN leaders advocating peace in their region.

Speaking the right mind at the right time, and to the right audience is a sign of leadership. Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong and his Malaysian counterpart PM Ibrahim Anwar have both chosen Boao Forum for Asia as the place to communicate and share their concerns for the region's economic development and political security as the possible "consequences" of deepening worries in the region over US-China tensions.

Lee Remarks: US-China Fierce Stand-offs on Issues – Ranging from Trade and Military and Tech Supremacy to Ideology – Leave Smaller Nations Struggling to Find a Middle Path…

Southeast Asian leaders attending an annual economic forum in China have warned of the spillover effects of great power rivalry, calling for healthy competition instead in the latest sign of deepening worries in the region over US-China tensions.

The US-China relationship was the "most worrying" and tensions between the two were felt "keenly" across the world, Lee told the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan.

"Big powers have a heavy responsibility to maintain stable and workable relations with one another, because any clash between them will have grievous consequences, for themselves and the world," Lee told world leaders, business executives and academics gathered for the forum.

"And yet, the US and China are at odds over many intractable issues, including trade and investment, supply chains, cyber-security, emerging and critical technologies, as well as freedom of navigation.

"We hope that China and the United States will succeed in stabilizing their relationship and establishing mutual trust and respect, to cooperate in areas where their interests are aligned."

Lee's remarks come at a time of fierce US-China stand-offs on issues ranging from trade and military and tech supremacy to ideology, leaving smaller nations around the world struggling to find a middle path.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine further strained ties between the two, after Washington accused Beijing of siding with Moscow for refusing to condemn the military action or join the West in imposing sanctions.

"Russia's invasion of Ukraine has gravely violated the UN Charter and international law, and profoundly undermined the rules-based international order," Lee said.

Worries over the fallout of the US-China tussle appear to be deeper for Asia, a heavily trade-dependent region – where China is the top trading partner to most nations, but the United States is considered as a major security partner.

Lee said the rift between the great powers would not only take its toll on the regional economy but also hamper efforts to tackle urgent global problems, such as climate change, energy and food security, etc.

"Economic imperatives are being overshadowed by national security concerns. Countries are pursuing self-reliance and resilience by onshoring, or friend-shoring, their supply chains," Lee said.

"The bifurcation in technological and economic systems is deepening and this will impose a huge economic cost on countries as well as further exacerbate rivalries."

Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim: We Need to Establish Certain Guardrails that the Competition Does not Lead to Bifurcation…

Rising to speak after Lee, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stressed the need for talks among top leaders to prevent competition – especially in the tech sector – from taking a destructive turn.

"While geoeconomic competition in the past was focused on commodities and resources, the current race is about cutting-edge technology, as demonstrated for example in the competition in the semiconductor industry" said Anwar, who is on his first visit to China since taking office in November.

He also called for intellectual property rights protection so that countries could stay ahead of the competition.

"We need to establish certain guardrails so that the competition does not lead to a bifurcation in the technological world, one that will only raise costs and impede further progress," Anwar told the high-profile economic forum.

"That is why I believe that technological competition should be one of the principal agenda items for discussion and the highest levels, right up there with discourses on security and general economic matters.

"Unfettered competition must give way to spirited collaboration."

There are concerns that Malaysian chips makers will be caught in the crossfire as the US restricts China's access to advanced semiconductor technology.

Both Anwar and Lee head to Beijing next for meetings with top-level Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping.

CONCLUSION

Having listened to two ASEAN leaders, it's encouraging to see more ASEAN leaders making regional concerns known to the world – by sharing what they see as signs of instability and pointing out the flashpoints in business areas that China and the US should continue to engage each other cooperatively and peacefully – so that the Asia-Pacific region can continue to enjoy its decades-long stability and economic prosperity.

Last time it was Joko Widodo, the progressive Indonesian leader advocating peace in the region, and the world got to see President Joe Biden and his counterpart President Xi Jinping appearing on the TV screen, cheerfully smiling as they greeted each other in Bali, Indonesia.

Since then, the relationships between the two super-powers have seen a roller-coaster like downward motion, leaving the world wondering when these VIPs will cheer up a world that is now steeped in tense competitions, and even talks of going to war.

Before the two big smiles appear in the horizon once again, it is heart-warming to see the newly installed Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim, throwing his weight on regional charm offensive.

The author is a freelance writer; formerly Adjunct Lecturer, taught MBA Philosophy of Management, and International Strategy, and online columnist of 3-D Corner (HKU SPACE), University of Hong Kong.

 

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.

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