Interview: Closer ASEAN-China ties help region weather geopolitical shocks, says Malaysian scholar

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Closer ties between ASEAN members and China can help the region better withstand geopolitical shocks, an analyst said.

Lee Pei May, an assistant professor at the International Islamic University Malaysia, made the remarks in a recent interview with Xinhua.

According to Lee, the region faces immediate challenges like the Strait of Hormuz disruptions, which have affected energy security. She also warned of longer-term threats, including trade fragmentation and climate change.

"With the Super El Nino potentially disrupting regional food security and contributing to transnational haze, cooperation with China is essential," Lee said.

Lee commended China's participation in ASEAN-led initiatives such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), calling it a sign of strong cooperative relations, particularly in the economic sphere.

Looking ahead, Lee suggested that China and ASEAN could strengthen cooperation in climate governance, an area where the region is particularly vulnerable.

"ASEAN continues to face recurring haze issues and flood issues, and has consistently experienced extreme weather in recent years," she said. "There is an opportunity for China to offer its expertise and experience in haze management and broader climate governance."

Lee also highlighted ASEAN's policy of non-confrontation and its centrality in the regional architecture, which ensures that cooperation and tensions are managed through dialogue and consultation. "This is the hallmark of ASEAN...evidence suggests that it has fostered greater economic integration and cooperation among its member states," she said.

She added that ASEAN has gained recognition as an influential grouping, as evidenced by the growing participation of countries and international organizations in its meetings, demonstrating its strategic and geopolitical importance.

"As the discourse on the Global South gains traction and the Global South becomes increasingly vocal in demanding reforms, ASEAN's role, comprising primarily countries of the Global South, has become even more important," Lee said.