ASEAN'S PIVOTAL ROLE FOR REGIONAL STABILITY: A REALIST PERSPECTIVE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF US-CHINA RIVALRY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
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Abstract
The Southeast Asian region, positioned at the crossroads of evolving geopolitical dynamics, presents a landscape rich in both opportunities and risks. Its strategic geographical location, serving as a nexus for the global East-West Sea Lane of Communication (SLOC), coupled with abundant natural resources on land and sea, has elevated it to a focal point of geopolitical rivalries. China is taking an assertive stance in the region reminiscent of Cold War dynamics, thereby occupying the gap left by the now defunct the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). This shift raises concerns as China flexes its military and economic influence, appearing poised to reshape the existing international order. Such actions signify a potential decline in reliance on the United States (US) within the region and provoke questions about the future balance of power in the region's security environment. The fundamental problem in this study centres on whether China's strategic manoeuvres significantly contribute to the weakening of United States-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (US-ASEAN) relations, thereby influencing the overall balance of power in the region. Therefore, this paper explores the significant role of ASEAN as a pivotal mechanism for regional stability. This study adopts qualitative methods with a mix of descriptive and analytical approaches and studies based on in-depth information and data from case studies. The findings emphasise ASEAN's crucial role in unifying Southeast Asian nations, fostering positive international cooperation, and forming strategic partnerships to counter disruptive forces through peaceful means. Furthermore, ASEAN deploys hedging and enmeshment strategies as a multilateral platform and through bilateral policies. These strategies provide dynamic alignment options, facilitating adjustments amidst the great power manoeuvres. In conclusion, the study strongly asserts that ASEAN holds the key to managing and influencing the current Sino-US rivalry, emerging as a pivotal mechanism for maintaining regional stability.
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