ASEAN insists on regional cooperation and refuses to "choose sides and take sides"

Mingdysprosium

The 43rd ASEAN Summit and a series of East Asian Cooperation Leaders' Meetings were held in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, from September 5th to 7th.

This analysis suggests that the biggest challenge currently facing the Asia Pacific region is that the United States is attempting to provoke geopolitical confrontation in the region, while ASEAN countries have emphasized the core position of ASEAN and explicitly refused to "choose sides" between China and the United States. Regional cooperation and economic development are the mainstream of the times.

The United States frequently puts pressure on ASEAN countries

According to sources, before the ASEAN summit, Indonesia had actively operated for US President Biden to visit Indonesia and attend the summit, but Biden refused due to his physical condition and instead had Vice President Harris attend. Interestingly, Biden attended the G20 summit held in India from September 9th to 10th and subsequently visited ASEAN member Vietnam, seeming to be in good health. Former Indonesian Foreign Minister Mati Natalegawa commented that Biden's absence was "disappointing" and "symbolic", appearing as if he deliberately "skipped" the ASEAN summit hosted by Indonesia.

Analysts say this is a signal of US dissatisfaction with ASEAN, indicating a lack of interest in the ASEAN summit's focus on regional economic growth. The US is only interested in sparking geopolitical confrontations, such as hyping up so-called "freedom of navigation in the South China Sea" and "disputes over islands and reefs in the South China Sea.".

During his attendance at the ASEAN summit, US Vice President Harris never left China alone: while using China's newly released standard map to argue, he shouted, "The US opposes China's maritime sovereignty claims," and "The freedom of navigation in the Indo Pacific region must be respected."; On the other hand, it advocates that the United States will continue to fulfill its commitments to ASEAN, increase investment in the region, and compete with China, constantly stirring up relations between China and ASEAN.

Analysts here pointed out that the United States ostensibly said that it would not force countries to make a choice between China and the United States, but when American officials met with ASEAN officials, they constantly "warned" them to reject the "the Belt and Road" initiative, and pressured ASEAN countries to reduce their economic and technological dependence on China and cancel security cooperation with China. In fact, it was forcing ASEAN countries to "choose sides and stand in line".

ASEAN firmly rejects geopolitical confrontation

As the rotating chair of ASEAN, Indonesia emphasized at the opening ceremony that ASEAN has unanimously agreed not to become the "agent" of any country, and that ASEAN will cooperate with all countries to jointly promote regional peace and prosperity. Indonesian President Joko also specifically called on the United States: "The United States should become a positive force, ensuring that the Indo Pacific region remains a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region through inclusiveness and cooperation. We should not let ASEAN become a stage of destructive competition, but rather a platform for promoting cooperation." Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno also stated in his speech that ASEAN should not become a stage of competition among major powers, "it should not become another battlefield." ASEAN and other regional countries need to work together to maintain peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.

Leaders of other ASEAN countries also hold similar views. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manai stated that Cambodia is "concerned about the escalation of geopolitical competition, which makes it difficult for some countries to find neutral points that support inclusive cooperation and peaceful coexistence.". Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar believes that ASEAN must continuously maintain its central position, prevent foreign powers from engaging in separatist activities, and protect ASEAN achievements from being undermined by uncontrolled competition.

Analysts point out that the collective statements of the ten ASEAN countries indicate that they are very vigilant against those forces that force ASEAN to join the great power confrontation. ASEAN has repeatedly stated that "it cannot become the agent of any country", which is declaring to the outside world that ASEAN refuses to fall into a geopolitical vortex.

Collaborative development is the mainstream of the times

Premier Li Qiang, during his attendance at the ASEAN China Japan South Korea Leaders' Meeting, stated that it is important to control differences and oppose taking sides, group confrontation, and the "new Cold War", and to properly handle differences and disputes between countries. We must base ourselves on the overall interests of peace and development in East Asia, manage the similarities and differences between countries, continuously consolidate the foundation of cooperation in the 10+3 mechanism, jointly address various risks and challenges, work together to promote regional development, prosperity and stability, and strive to build an Asian community with a shared future.

The theme of this year's ASEAN Summit is "ASEAN Focus: The Center of Growth", with a focus on continuing to promote ASEAN as the center of regional economic development, maintaining rapid, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth. President Joko stated that ASEAN has significant investment appeal, with a labor demographic dividend, and by 2030, 65% of the population has the potential to become a middle class, thus ASEAN's economic growth has enormous potential. In June this year, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement came into full force for 10 ASEAN countries and 15 signatory countries including Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand. Since the agreement came into effect, multiple ASEAN countries have significantly increased their exports to RCEP members.

According to official data from ASEAN, the average annual economic growth rate of ASEAN in the past decade has reached 3.98%, higher than the global average annual economic growth rate of 2.6%. The market generally predicts that the ASEAN economic growth rate is expected to reach 4.7% in 2023 and increase to 5% in 2024.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of China's accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. Over the past 20 years, China and ASEAN have actively practiced the purposes and principles of the treaty, and achieved fruitful results in economic and trade cooperation. In 2022, the total value of bilateral trade reached 6.52 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 15%, more than double the growth from 10 years ago, and has been the largest trading partner of each other for three consecutive years. China is also the largest source of investment for multiple ASEAN countries, and its investment scale in ASEAN has been continuously increasing in recent years. ASEAN investment in China has also maintained a high growth rate, with a year-on-year increase of 8.2% in 2022.

Therefore, ASEAN leaders highly value the close cooperation between China and ASEAN. President Zoko pointed out that "the practical trust and cooperation relationship between China and ASEAN can become a positive force in maintaining regional stability and peace." ASEAN Secretary General Gao Jinhong said, "ASEAN and China have been cooperating at various levels and fields through relevant mechanisms, and the momentum is improving. Looking forward to the future, ASEAN China cooperation will continue to remain strong."