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Chapter 1
Introduction
Challenges to ASEAN
While the focus remains on regional In South China Sea (SCS), ASEAN Implications to ASEAN
prosperity through mutual cooperation, member states’ overlapping maritime
ASEAN member states also confront varied, claims are further complicated with China’s
complex and broad security challenges overarching territorial claims. China’s
in the region. The region is also witnessing claim in the South China Sea overlaps the Evolving Geo-Strategic Matrix in South China Sea:
potential big power confrontation in the competing claims by Brunei Darussalam,
8
South China Sea, which may have long Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
lasting effects on the region, if the situation China has also enhanced its sphere of
is not tackled with mutually devised influence into South Asia and Africa.
proactive diplomatic maneuvers. It is also promoting the Belt and Road
Initiative (BRI) as a grand infrastructure
Within the ASEAN region, the group push across the Pacific and Indian 05
is beset with illegal migration issues, oceans.
land border disputes, transnational crimes,
ethnic crises, issues related to the This has spurred outside powers,
Mekong River, and overlapping maritime having strategic interests in the area,
border claims in South China Sea by Brunei like the United States, United Kingdom,
Darussalam, Malaysia, the Philippines Germany, and Australia, to release
and Vietnam. 7 statements calling for respect for
international rule of law and to continue
7 hhttps://thediplomat.com/2020/08/aseans-challenges-and-the-way-forward/
8 https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/08/7-challenges-to-business-in-the-asean-region-and-how-
to-solve-them/
