Singapore—At the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as the upcoming chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2025, firmly rejected pressures to choose sides in geopolitical rivalries.
“We will not be forced into taking sides,” Anwar stated during his special address, emphasizing ASEAN’s commitment to engaging with all global powers for the benefit of the region.
Echoing this stance, Singaporean Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing, speaking at the final session of the dialogue on Sunday, underlined the importance of principles over power politics. “If we have to choose sides, may we choose the side of principles—principles that uphold a global order where we do not descend into the law of the jungle,” Chan said.
Their remarks came in response to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s call for Asia-Pacific countries to increase their military spending to 5 percent of GDP to counter perceived threats from China.
Rejecting Bloc Confrontation
ASEAN leaders expressed concerns over rising tensions and the prospect of being caught in the middle of major power rivalries. They emphasized the necessity for Southeast Asia to engage constructively with both the United States and China, rather than being forced to pick a side.
Experts at the dialogue voiced similar opinions. Da Wei, director of the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, noted that attempts to drive a wedge between China and Asia-Pacific countries are ineffective. “The U.S. attempt to divide China and Asia-Pacific countries lacks persuasiveness,” Da commented.
Different Visions for Regional Security
While the U.S. promoted its “Indo-Pacific Strategy,” urging increased military expenditure, Chinese representatives highlighted an alternative approach. Zhang Chi, a member of the Chinese delegation, introduced China’s Asian security model, which emphasizes shared prosperity, dialogue, and consultation.
“Our model aligns with the common interests of all Asian nations and charts a practical path to safeguard regional stability,” Zhang stated.
Shen Chen, deputy director of the Department of International Political Theory at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, contrasted the two approaches. “The Asian security model demonstrates fundamental differences from the U.S. ‘Indo-Pacific Strategy.’ It focuses on win-win cooperation and equal consultation,” Shen explained.
He criticized the U.S. demand for increased defense spending as “unreasonable and unrealistic,” warning that it could lead to an arms race and heightened tensions in the region.
Choosing the Path of Peace and Collaboration
The consensus among ASEAN leaders and experts is clear: regional peace and stability should not be jeopardized by great power competitions. Instead, they advocate for a collaborative approach that emphasizes mutual respect and shared development.
“Most regional countries prefer partnering with major nations to uphold security through peace and collaboration—not following a path of military expansion,” Shen affirmed.
The Shangri-La Dialogue highlighted these differing visions for the future of the Asia-Pacific region, with ASEAN leaders steadfast in their commitment to not choosing sides but instead embracing principles that foster peace and prosperity for all.
