Kanaev Evgeniy

ASEAN-Led Multilateral Dialogue Formats: a Problematic Consolidating Agenda

ЮГО-ВОСТОЧНАЯ АЗИЯ: АКТУАЛЬНЫЕ ПРОБЛЕМЫ РАЗВИТИЯ, 2023, №5(61), 11-23

 
Annotation: The article traces the evolution of ASEAN-centric multilateral dialogue venues and initiatives (the ARF, ADMM Plus and EAS) amidst a rise in conflict in relations between Asia-Pacific major actors, including a collapse of inclusive Asia-Pacific development agenda. On tracing the evolution of Asia-Pacific multilateral security dialogue platforms – ARF, ADMM Plus and EAS – and revealing threats to these venues from the project Indo-Pacific region and individually, Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Agreement, the paper specifies whether these threats can be eliminated by the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) instruments. The author points to a fundamental contradiction to ASEAN’s policy on developing Asia-Pacific multilateral dialogue. While the political-security track of ASEAN’s policy has been inclusive since its beginning, subsequent ASEAN economic-centered efforts conspicuously lack inclusivity as a basic feature of ASEAN’s projects As a result, regional macro-factors undermine ASEAN’s policy aimed at developing a consolidating agenda in dialogue with extra-regional partners.

Keywords: ASEAN, multilateral dialogue, economy, politics, security, consolidating agenda