The Role of ASEAN in Shaping Asian-Pacific Geopolitics

This panel examines ASEAN’s evolving role as a stabilizing force in the Asia-Pacific, particularly in navigating geopolitical tensions, advancing trade partnerships, and shaping regional security architecture. As strategic competition intensifies among major powers—including the United States, China, India, Japan, and South Korea—ASEAN's position as a convening and mediating body becomes increasingly critical. The papers presented offer diverse yet complementary perspectives on ASEAN’s impact, ranging from historical legacies and educational diplomacy to foreign policy, economic integration, and maritime security. Collectively, they highlight ASEAN’s capacity to assert agency amid shifting power dynamics and reinforce its role in shaping the future contours of Asia-Pacific geopolitics.