Hosting a special summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this week represents a significant moment in Australia's evolving relationship with the ten-nation bloc, which together represents a somewhat unrealized economic and trade opportunity despite our 50-year history of friendship.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the special summit between ASEAN and Australia.credit: Joe Armao
Combined, the ASEAN economies are almost twice the size of Australia's. They have built their fortunes mostly on their highly protected and domestically focused twin engines, and their manufacturing industries are neither dependent on nor fueled by Australian iron and gas.
Australia and ASEAN countries share similar realities in dealing with China. We both rely heavily on trade and economic relations, but we are concerned about China's growing geopolitical expansionism. But unlike us, some ASEAN members steadfastly refuse to take sides.
The differences emerged at the opening of the summit in Melbourne on Monday when Foreign Minister Penny Wong warned that Southeast Asia's freedom from the dominance of any single power was under threat and that the growing risk of conflict in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait would exacerbate the problem. It will continue unless the region adopts new diplomatic and legal guarantees.
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But Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim defended his country's relations with China and complained about the alleged pressure exerted by the United States and its allies on regional countries to side with the strategic rivalries between the West and Beijing. If they have problems with China, they should not impose them on us. “We have no problem with China.”
Surprisingly, Anwar told… AnnounceMatthew Knott has been open to the possibility of Australia formally joining ASEAN. As long as Indo-Pacific countries remain “neutral” and “non-aligned” when it comes to the United States and China, Anwar said, “well, I don't see this much of a problem.”
But there are certainly doubts about the validity of this long-standing neutrality. Last August, when the Chinese coast guard fired water cannons at a Philippine resupply ship, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) failed to speak up for its member nation, prompting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to join forces with Australia, Japan and South Korea. and Vietnam (another ASEAN member) in supporting continued U.S. engagement to maintain peace, stability, and success in the region. In the face of such breakthroughs, China can rely on the loyalty of the other ASEAN members, Laos and Cambodia.
In a different world, Malcolm Turnbull hosted ASEAN leaders in Sydney in 2018, but this week's special ASEAN summit – marking the 50th anniversary of Australia's status as a dialogue partner – coincides with the People's Conference National Bank in Beijing as China places increasing restrictions on foreign investment. While it re-centralizes state power that has not been seen since the days of Mao Zedong.
