Navigating ASEAN Centrality amidst Internal Friction and Interplay of Strategic Frameworks between the US and China

The principle of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) centrality is embedded within the intricate dynamics of the broader Indo-Pacific region. This phenomenon can be attributed to the susceptibility of ASEAN’s centrality to various hegemonic processes. The article unveils challenges to ASEAN centrality arising from competing interests and alignment conflicts, particularly in relation to China and the United States (US). The emergence of strategic frameworks, coupled with China’s
expanding influence, along with the evolution of defence cooperation mechanisms and territorial disputes, is reshaping the geopolitical landscape and testing ASEAN’s unity and influence. The complex interplay of these factors exposes the nuanced relationship between the US-led structures, such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), and ASEAN’s regional centrality, ultimately shaping the geopolitics of the region.