Asean must work to enhance influence on superpowers

Free Malaysia Today

Leaders and analysts interviewed by FMT say Asean must be united, adaptable and dynamic to influence global politics amid rising geopolitical challenges.   Read More:  https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2025/02/13/asean-must-work-to-enhance-influence-on-superpowers/   Laporan Lanjut:  https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2025/02/13/asean-mesti-usaha-kukuh-pengaruh-terhadap-kuasa-besar/   Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com  Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5  Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM  Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h  Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp  Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX  Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb  Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj  Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Download FMT News App:  Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46  App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ  Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP   #FMTNews #Asean #EnhanceInfluence #GeopoliticalChallenges

Transcript

00:00Several leaders of ASEAN member states said that the regional grouping must work to enhance

00:06its influence to ensure peace and regional stability amid rising geopolitical tensions.

00:12Nikondad Palangkun, a spokesman for Thailand's foreign ministry,

00:16expressed confidence that the bloc can play a formidable role in international affairs.

00:22We are living in a very fast-paced, fast-changing geopolitical architecture.

00:30ASEAN has to be dynamic. ASEAN has to be adaptable to all these changes. Looking ahead,

00:41ASEAN has to be more pronounced in its

00:48endeavor, more pronounced in such a way that it is noticeable by the international superpower.

00:59Philippines Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said it is crucial for ASEAN to remain united

01:05and adaptable if the bloc is to maintain and promote peace and stability. He said there are

01:10key areas, including artificial intelligence, where ASEAN has the potential to be a force

01:16regionally and even globally. On the other hand, IC's Yusuf Ishak Institute Senior Fellow

01:22Thangsu Moon said that while ASEAN remains crucial in navigating complex regional challenges,

01:28the bloc is long overdue for a makeover. He pointed out that the foundations ASEAN operates on

01:35are based on the Declaration of Bangkok signed in 1967, nearly 60 years ago, and questioned if

01:42the bloc is still fit for purpose. However, Manalo played down the need for ASEAN to reinvent itself.

01:50I don't know if it needs to reinvent itself, but ASEAN should certainly, I think,

01:55see how we can be responsive to the developments that we now face,

02:01which were not there, issues or situations which were not there 20 years ago.

02:07ASEAN Secretary-General Khao Kim Horn said the bloc will continue to build bridges between all

02:13Indo-Pacific nations and explore ways to keep U.S.-China tensions from spilling over and destabilizing the region.

02:21But the ability to undertake dialogue, consultations, and to sort out our differences,

02:29this is something that we should never overlook. And the way we engage with our partners

02:38in transparency, inclusivity, and openness have built a lot of trust.

02:46Natasha Biest, FMT News.

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