Japan and ASEAN are being encouraged to deepen cooperation in economic resilience, regional security and strategic autonomy as intensifying competition between the United States and China creates new challenges across the Indo-Pacific.
In a recent commentary published by Asia News Network, Kin Phea, Director-General of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, argues that ASEAN’s priority should not be choosing between major powers, but preserving its unity, strategic autonomy and ability to maintain constructive partnerships with multiple countries. Japan, with its longstanding economic and diplomatic relationship with Southeast Asia, could play an important role in supporting that objective.
Japan–ASEAN Relations Built on Decades of Trust
Japan’s engagement with Southeast Asia has developed over decades, with the 1977 Fukuda Doctrine establishing principles centred on peaceful engagement, mutual trust and partnership with ASEAN.
That relationship continues today. The 2023 ASEAN–Japan Joint Vision Statement described both sides as “Trusted Partners”, with cooperation spanning economic development, intergenerational ties and regional peace and stability.
Japan’s updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) approach also places greater emphasis on resilience, inclusiveness, connectivity and the rule of law while supporting countries’ ability to make their own strategic decisions.
For ASEAN, Japan’s continued support for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and ASEAN-led institutions could help ensure that external initiatives complement rather than compete with ASEAN centrality.
ASEAN Seeks Strategic Choice, Not Major-Power Alignment
Southeast Asian countries generally maintain extensive relationships with multiple global powers.
China remains a major economic partner and close neighbour, while the United States plays a significant role in security, technology and investment. Japan, India, South Korea and the European Union further broaden ASEAN’s international partnerships.
ASEAN’s challenge is therefore maintaining an environment where Member States can cooperate with different partners without being forced into exclusive geopolitical alignments.
ASEAN-led platforms including the East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN Plus Three and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus remain important mechanisms for maintaining dialogue among countries with competing strategic interests.
Economic Resilience Becomes a Strategic Priority
Japan–ASEAN cooperation also offers significant opportunities beyond diplomacy.
Greater collaboration in supply-chain diversification, digital infrastructure, energy and food security, connectivity and higher-value industries could strengthen ASEAN’s resilience while reducing excessive dependence on individual markets or suppliers.
For developing ASEAN economies, Japanese investment, skills development, infrastructure and technology transfer could also help narrow regional development gaps and strengthen participation in higher-value supply chains.
The objective is not economic decoupling, but creating more options for ASEAN economies and businesses.
Maritime Security and Cybersecurity Offer Further Cooperation
Japan can also contribute to ASEAN resilience through cooperation in maritime domain awareness, coastguard capabilities, cybersecurity and disaster response.
Such initiatives can strengthen national institutions while supporting peaceful dispute management and adherence to international law.
For smaller Southeast Asian states in particular, stronger institutions and predictable regional rules can provide additional protection in an international environment where countries possess significantly different levels of economic and military power.
ASEAN Must Strengthen Its Own Capacity
External partnerships alone, however, cannot guarantee ASEAN centrality.
The commentary emphasises that ASEAN’s long-term strategic relevance ultimately depends on its own unity, credibility and institutional capacity.
Member States therefore need to strengthen internal consultation, narrow development gaps and prevent national differences from creating permanent strategic divisions.
A stronger ASEAN would be better positioned to maintain productive relationships with Japan, China, the United States and other partners while continuing to make decisions based on regional priorities.
Looking Ahead
As US–China competition intensifies, Japan’s most valuable contribution may not be encouraging Southeast Asian countries to choose sides, but helping ASEAN preserve the ability to make its own strategic choices.
Deeper cooperation in connectivity, supply chains, digital development, maritime security, skills and regional institutions could strengthen ASEAN’s resilience while maintaining an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
For ASEAN, the challenge is equally clear: strategic autonomy requires strong regional institutions and sufficient economic capacity to turn diplomatic centrality into practical influence.
A stronger Japan–ASEAN partnership built around trust, resilience and strategic choice could therefore become an increasingly important stabilising force as Southeast Asia navigates a more competitive and uncertain geopolitical environment.
