Publication

This commentary discusses ASEAN centrality, referring to the idea that rather than the US, China or other powers, ASEAN should play the leading role in building an Asian regional architecture. More specifically, the author discusses 1) how relations within ASEAN itself are impeding the ability of the organization to have a significant influence in the region; 2) how the organization's claims about its position in the region compare with its actual role; 3) the challenges that could threaten the existing influence ASEAN has in East Asia; and 4) the need for ASEAN, if it is to maintain its central role, to convince the US and China that it is in their interests not to create divisions within the organization.