ASEAN leaders convene to address intertwined great‑power rivalries and maritime security, highlighting regional governance gaps
Original framing: “ASEAN's top diplomats meet in shadow of U.S.-Iran conflict” — The Hindu
Fisherfolk from the Philippines, Brunei’s coastal communities, and Myanmar’s Rohingya refugees articulate daily insecurities that are invisible in diplomatic briefs. Their testimonies highlight how militarised patrols disrupt livelihoods and exacerbate human‑rights concerns. Elevating these perspectives through participatory forums can recalibrate power balances toward equitable outcomes.
The ASEAN summit, framed by mainstream media as a peripheral echo of the U.S.
-Iran clash, actually sits at the nexus of historic power imbalances, climate‑driven resource stress, and divergent cultural logics of the Indo‑Pacific. By integrating indigenous maritime knowledge, robust scientific modelling, and the lived experiences of marginalised coastal communities, ASEAN can craft a multilateral governance architecture that transcends zero‑sum rivalries. Institutionalizing inclusive dispute mechanisms, backed by transparent data sharing and climate‑adaptation hubs, offers a concrete pathway to convert diplomatic rhetoric into durable peace. Such a systemic approach re‑centers regional agency, counters external power narratives, and aligns with historical precedents of collective maritime stewardship across the Indian Ocean and South China Sea.