India Foundation hosted a roundtable discussion on “Defining ASEAN centrality in the Indo-Pacific” with a delegation from S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies of Singapore on July 12, 2024 in New Delhi. The discussions were led by Amb Ong Keng Yong, Executive Deputy Chairman, RSIS, Singapore and Vice Adm Shekhar Sinha, Chairman, Board of Trustees, India Foundation. The session was also addressed by Amb TCA Raghavan, Former Ambassador of India to Singapore and Dr Sinderpal Singh of RSIS.
The discussions centred around the strategic importance of ASEAN, regional challenges, and the implications of China’s actions in the region. The importance of ASEAN’s strategic location, particularly with regards to the South China Sea, was emphasized due to its geopolitical and economic significance. ASEAN countries, being some of the most impacted by regional tensions, play a crucial role in addressing these challenges. The discussion highlighted China’s aggressive behaviour concerning its territorial claims over Taiwan, the Senkaku Islands, and the Paracel Islands.
In their opening remarks, Amb Ong and Adm Sinha touched upon various facets of ASEAN’s centrality to the Indo-Pacific. They stressed on the necessity for ASEAN to respond collectively to regional challenges and emphasized on the emergence of India as a key partner. The strong bilateral relations between India and ASEAN countries were also acknowledged as crucial for fostering regional cooperation.
The scope of discussions further included ASEAN’s pillars of engagement with the Indo-Pacific, differences between various Southeast Asian states and individual approaches to the Indo-Pacific and how Southeast Asia is possibly negotiating this vision of the Indo-Pacific.
