M'sia to prioritise neutrality, strategic hedging at Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting

The Star

3 hours ago

KUALA LUMPUR: The 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related meetings are set to convene here next week, with maritime disputes, economic headwinds including impending US tariffs, and shifting global dynamics expected to dominate the agenda.
Against this complex global geopolitical backdrop and intensifying US-China rivalry in the South China Sea, Malaysia, as chair, is expected to adopt a neutral yet proactive stance in leading the regional bloc to foster constructive engagement with its external partners for peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific.
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International relations and defence expert Dr Nor Aishah Hanifa said Malaysia's leadership in Asean would prioritise peace, stability, and the rule of law in navigating major power competition in the Indo-Pacific.
"The 46th Asean Summit reaffirmed the region's commitment to a peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea.
"All leaders emphasised maximum restraint and the importance of upholding the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC)," the Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) senior lecturer told Bernama.
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Nor Aishah said Malaysia, as Asean Chair, would maintain good relations with both the United States and China, its key trading partners, while pursuing a hedging strategy to safeguard sovereignty and mitigate risks associated with geopolitical uncertainty.
She said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's active foreign engagements reflect Malaysia's broader strategy to diversify economic ties and reduce reliance on any single major power.
"Malaysia is a middle power. Hedging allows us to balance both sides and pursue our national interests without aligning too closely with either major power," she said, adding that such a strategy remains vital in today's volatile international system.
She said that amid ongoing maritime tensions, Malaysia would continue diplomatic engagement with China and advocate for the speedy implementation of a legally binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea.
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"Malaysia's tone will remain diplomatic, aiming to avoid escalation," she said.
On the potential outcome of the 58th AMM, she said Malaysia and fellow Asean members were in a unique position to persuade China towards a more concrete COC, especially as economic headwinds prompt Beijing to deepen trade ties with the region.
"China's economic situation, coupled with the need for stable trade channels, presents an opportunity for Asean to gain traction on the COC. The regional structure right now offers a window for diplomacy," she said.
In terms of broader engagements with Dialogue Partners, including the US, China, the United Kingdom (UK), and the European Union (EU), Nor Aishah noted that economic cooperation remains the cornerstone of Asean's external relations, though the focus may vary by partner.
"The UK, for instance, is seeking to expand its free trade footprint in the region and has programmes like the Asean-UK Economic Integration Programme and STEM scholarships. With the EU, there's potential to advance a region-to-region FTA (free trade agreement)," she said.
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Meanwhile, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Human Ecology Faculty senior lecturer Dr Fairuzzaman Shaharuddin also highlighted that security and economic issues are expected to dominate discussions at the 58th AMM, with Malaysia likely to emphasise strategic autonomy while strengthening cooperation in areas such as supply chains, sustainability, and regional security frameworks.
Fairuzzaman said Asean's engagement with countries such as the US, China, UK, and EU will be "multi-dimensional" that reflect the shifting dynamics in the Indo-Pacific and global economy.
He said the US and China are expected to compete for influence, particularly in the South China Sea, while the UK and EU will likely promote trade, a rules-based international order, and sustainable development goals.
"With growing geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties, for instance, the Iran-Israel conflict and Trump's 'reciprocal tariffs', Asean is likely to discuss supply chain resilience, the green transition, the digital economy and regional security frameworks.
"Despite many interests, I believe maintaining strategic autonomy while deepening functional cooperation will be key for Asean to achieve centrality, (in line with) Malaysia's vision in Asean Vision 2045," he told Bernama.
Addressing broader regional tensions, Fairuzzaman said Malaysia's longstanding military cooperation with the US and deep economic ties with China have drawn increasing interest from scholars and analysts, who view this approach as a form of 'strategic hedging', aimed at managing risks between the competing superpowers.
This strategy, he said, aligns with Malaysia's non-aligned foreign policy, which prioritises economic cooperation, regional stability, and defence diplomacy to navigate shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.
Malaysia will host the 58th AMM and related meetings from July 8 to 11, with a total of 24 meetings at the Asean Foreign Ministers' level to be convened, including a series of meetings with Asean Dialogue Partners and Sectoral Dialogue Partners.
More than 35 foreign ministers and representatives from various international bodies are expected to attend the meetings. - Bernama