FOR decades, one of the most frequently repeated phrases in Southeast Asian diplomacy has been “Asean centrality.” The concept has become so familiar that it is often invoked almost automatically in official statements, summit declarations and policy speeches. Yet today, as geopolitical competition intensifies and new security arrangements proliferate across the Indo-Pacific, a fundamental question arises: Can Asean centrality survive the rise of minilateralism?
At its core, Asean centrality refers to the idea that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations should remain the primary convening platform for regional dialogue and cooperation. Since the end of the Cold War, Asean has successfully established a series of institutions that bring together major powers and regional states alike. These include the Asean Regional Forum, the East Asia Summit and the Asean Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus. Through these mechanisms, Asean has managed to position itself as the diplomatic hub of a highly diverse and often divided region.