ASEAN leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strategic neutrality during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, pushing back against growing pressure to align with global powers amid escalating US-China competition. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, set to chair ASEAN in 2025, declared the bloc\u2019s refusal to \u201cchoose sides\u201d in geopolitical rivalries during a keynote address on Saturday.
Singaporean Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing amplified this stance on Sunday, emphasizing Southeast Asia\u2019s need to engage with all nations while upholding principles of multilateralism. \u201cIf we have to choose sides, may we choose the side of principles \u2013 principles that uphold a global order where we do not descend into the law of the jungle,\u201d Chan stated, drawing applause from delegates.
The declarations followed remarks by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who urged Asia-Pacific countries to boost military spending to 5% of GDP to counter China\u2019s influence. Analysts criticized the approach as counterproductive. \u201cThe US attempt to divide China and Asia-Pacific countries lacks persuasiveness,\u201d said Da Wei, director of Tsinghua University\u2019s Center for International Security and Strategy, during a media briefing at the summit.
Observers note ASEAN\u2019s unified stance reflects regional priorities: maintaining economic ties with China while preserving security partnerships with Western nations. The dialogue highlighted growing resistance to binary Cold War-style alignments in Asia\u2019s evolving geopolitical landscape.
