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AUKUS Can Endanger ASEAN Centrality

Year 2023, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 1 - 20, 30.06.2023

Abstract

The article analyses how AUKUS, sharing its nuclear-powered submarine with Australia, could change the balance in the Asia-Pacific region against The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The study considers that AUKUS' nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) operation will undermine ASEAN centrality and the peace-stability environment in the region. The research included information on the countries’ foreign policy discourses and it made inferences by examining the information about the states' military expenditures. The article mentioned the security dilemma of the ASEAN member countries after the SSN initiative of AUKUS and also it studied what kind of impact this situation would have on the future of the organization. The study reveals that AUKUS will increase the arms race, and as a result, ASEAN centrality and stability-oriented structure will be disrupted in the China-US struggle. While ASEAN will continue as an economically strong organization by participating in the arms race, AUKUS, as a military initiative, has turned the balance in the region in favour of the USA in the short term.

References

  • Acharya, A. (2014). From ASEAN centrality to regional integration? International Relations of the Asia-Pacific, 433-457.
  • Acharya, A. (2017). ASEAN and the Challenge of Change: How the Regional Association is Adapting to a New Global Order. International Affairs, 507-526.
  • Acharya, A. (2020). The End of ASEAN Centrality? Assessing the ASEAN Way in an Era of Asian Maritime Disputes. International Relations of the Asia-Pacific, 361-386.
  • AP News. (2022, June 28). "Australia FM stresses" . Retrieved April 13, 2023, from AP News: https://apnews.com/article/china-asia-australia-global-trade-b3bb95edec2baa9584fb8faead271222
  • Beeson, M. (2018). Regionalism and Globalization in East Asia: Politics, Security and Economic Development. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Blaxland, J. (2023 , March 13). Aukus will bolster stability in the Asia-Pacific, not undermine it. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/13/aukus-will-bolster-stability-in-the-asia-pacific-not-undermine-it
  • Charney, M. W. (2022). AUKUS and the Indo-Pacific: Challenges and Opportunities. Asian Survey, 25-49.
  • Cheng, M. (2022). AUKUS: The Changing Dynamic and Its Regional Implications. European Journal of Development Studies, 1-7.
  • Chubb, P. (2021). Australia’s New Strategic Partnering: Implications of the AUKUS Submarine Deal. Naval War College Review, 47-65.
  • Emmers, R., & Rüland, J. (2021). The AUKUS Pact and Southeast Asia: Rethinking ASEAN Centrality. Berlin: Springer.
  • Graham, E. (2021). AUKUS and the Future of Australian Security Policy. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 509-517.
  • Heng, Y.-K. (2017). ASEAN’s concept of centrality and the great powers. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 373-390.
  • Heydarian, R. J. (2023, March 21). AUKUS a hard nuke sale in next door SE Asia. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from Asia Times: https://asiatimes.com/2023/03/aukus-a-hard-nuke-sale-in-next-door-se-asia/
  • Koga, K. (2022). The AUKUS Alliance and the Quad: Implications for ASEAN Centrality and Indo-Pacific Regionalism. Contemporary Southeast Asia, 1-25.
  • Li, M. (2022). ASEAN’s responses to AUKUS: implications for strategic realignments in the Indo Pacifc. China International Strategy Review, 268–287.
  • Mearsheimer, J. J. (2018). Great Delusion Liberal Dreams and International Realities. London: Yale University Press.
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia, n.d. (2023, March 14). Enhanced Trilateral Security Partnership Between Australia, The United Kingdom And The United States Of America (AUKUS). Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia. https://www.kln.gov.my/web/guest/-/enhanced-trilateral-security-partnership-between-australia-the-united-kingdom-and-the-united-states-of-america-aukus- (Accessed Date: 31.05.2023)
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Republic of Indonesia, n.d. (2021, September 17). Statement on Australia's Nuclear-powered Submarines Program. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Republic of Indonesia. https://kemlu.go.id/portal/en/read/2937/siaran_pers/statement-on-australias-nuclear-powered-submarines-program (Accessed Date: 31.05.2023)
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore, n.d. (2021, October 5). Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan's Written Reply to Parliamentary Question, 5 October 2021. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. https://www.mfa.gov.sg/Newsroom/Press-Statements-Transcripts-and-Photos/2021/10/20211005-written-reply-to-AUKUS-PQ (Accessed Date: 31.05.2023)
  • Rocamora, J. A. (2023, March 16). PH notes AUKUS assurances on preserving reg'l peace. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1197537 ( Accessed Date: 31.05.2023)
  • Schneider, N. (2022). Security architecture in the Indo-Pacific: ASEAN centrality and the challenges of great power rivalry. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 25-42.
  • Singh, A. (2021, December 22). India remains divided about AUKUS. The Interpreter. https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/india-remains-divided-about-aukus (Accessed Date: 12.04.2023)
  • Singh, G. (2021, October 27). The ASEAN disunity over AUKUS. Observer Research Foundation. https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/the-asean-disunity-over-aukus/ (Accessed Date: 13.04.2023)
  • Swanström, N., & Panda, J. (2021). AUKUS: Resetting European Thinking on the Indo-Pacific? Stockholm: Institute for Security & Development Policy.
  • Tan, S. S. (2019). The Responsibility to Provide in Southeast Asia Towards an Ethical Explanation. Bristol : Bristol University Press.
  • Thayer, C. A. (2022). The AUKUS Security Arrangement and Its Implications for ASEAN and Southeast Asia. Contemporary Southeast Asia, 26-51.
  • Viet Nam News . (2023, March 23). Việt Nam urges peaceful use of nuclear energy in response to AUKUS submarine deal. Viet Nam News. https://vietnamnews.vn/politics-laws/1501638/viet-nam-urges-peaceful-use-of-nuclear-energy-in-response-to-aukus-submarine-deal.html (Accessed Date: 31.05.2023)
  • Yoshimatsu, H. (2023). ASEAN and Great Power Rivalry in Regionalism: From East Asia to the Indo-Pacific. Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, 25-44.

AUKUS Can Endanger ASEAN Centrality

Year 2023, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 1 - 20, 30.06.2023

Abstract

The article analyses how AUKUS, sharing its nuclear-powered submarine with Australia, could change the balance in the Asia-Pacific region against The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The study considers that AUKUS' nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) operation will undermine ASEAN centrality and the peace-stability environment in the region. The research included information on the countries’ foreign policy discourses and it made inferences by examining the information about the states' military expenditures. The article mentioned the security dilemma of the ASEAN member countries after the SSN initiative of AUKUS and also it studied what kind of impact this situation would have on the future of the organization. The study reveals that AUKUS will increase the arms race, and as a result, ASEAN centrality and stability-oriented structure will be disrupted in the China-US struggle. While ASEAN will continue as an economically strong organization by participating in the arms race, AUKUS, as a military initiative, has turned the balance in the region in favour of the USA in the short term.

References

  • Acharya, A. (2014). From ASEAN centrality to regional integration? International Relations of the Asia-Pacific, 433-457.
  • Acharya, A. (2017). ASEAN and the Challenge of Change: How the Regional Association is Adapting to a New Global Order. International Affairs, 507-526.
  • Acharya, A. (2020). The End of ASEAN Centrality? Assessing the ASEAN Way in an Era of Asian Maritime Disputes. International Relations of the Asia-Pacific, 361-386.
  • AP News. (2022, June 28). "Australia FM stresses" . Retrieved April 13, 2023, from AP News: https://apnews.com/article/china-asia-australia-global-trade-b3bb95edec2baa9584fb8faead271222
  • Beeson, M. (2018). Regionalism and Globalization in East Asia: Politics, Security and Economic Development. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Blaxland, J. (2023 , March 13). Aukus will bolster stability in the Asia-Pacific, not undermine it. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/13/aukus-will-bolster-stability-in-the-asia-pacific-not-undermine-it
  • Charney, M. W. (2022). AUKUS and the Indo-Pacific: Challenges and Opportunities. Asian Survey, 25-49.
  • Cheng, M. (2022). AUKUS: The Changing Dynamic and Its Regional Implications. European Journal of Development Studies, 1-7.
  • Chubb, P. (2021). Australia’s New Strategic Partnering: Implications of the AUKUS Submarine Deal. Naval War College Review, 47-65.
  • Emmers, R., & Rüland, J. (2021). The AUKUS Pact and Southeast Asia: Rethinking ASEAN Centrality. Berlin: Springer.
  • Graham, E. (2021). AUKUS and the Future of Australian Security Policy. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 509-517.
  • Heng, Y.-K. (2017). ASEAN’s concept of centrality and the great powers. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 373-390.
  • Heydarian, R. J. (2023, March 21). AUKUS a hard nuke sale in next door SE Asia. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from Asia Times: https://asiatimes.com/2023/03/aukus-a-hard-nuke-sale-in-next-door-se-asia/
  • Koga, K. (2022). The AUKUS Alliance and the Quad: Implications for ASEAN Centrality and Indo-Pacific Regionalism. Contemporary Southeast Asia, 1-25.
  • Li, M. (2022). ASEAN’s responses to AUKUS: implications for strategic realignments in the Indo Pacifc. China International Strategy Review, 268–287.
  • Mearsheimer, J. J. (2018). Great Delusion Liberal Dreams and International Realities. London: Yale University Press.
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia, n.d. (2023, March 14). Enhanced Trilateral Security Partnership Between Australia, The United Kingdom And The United States Of America (AUKUS). Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia. https://www.kln.gov.my/web/guest/-/enhanced-trilateral-security-partnership-between-australia-the-united-kingdom-and-the-united-states-of-america-aukus- (Accessed Date: 31.05.2023)
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Republic of Indonesia, n.d. (2021, September 17). Statement on Australia's Nuclear-powered Submarines Program. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Republic of Indonesia. https://kemlu.go.id/portal/en/read/2937/siaran_pers/statement-on-australias-nuclear-powered-submarines-program (Accessed Date: 31.05.2023)
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore, n.d. (2021, October 5). Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan's Written Reply to Parliamentary Question, 5 October 2021. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. https://www.mfa.gov.sg/Newsroom/Press-Statements-Transcripts-and-Photos/2021/10/20211005-written-reply-to-AUKUS-PQ (Accessed Date: 31.05.2023)
  • Rocamora, J. A. (2023, March 16). PH notes AUKUS assurances on preserving reg'l peace. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1197537 ( Accessed Date: 31.05.2023)
  • Schneider, N. (2022). Security architecture in the Indo-Pacific: ASEAN centrality and the challenges of great power rivalry. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 25-42.
  • Singh, A. (2021, December 22). India remains divided about AUKUS. The Interpreter. https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/india-remains-divided-about-aukus (Accessed Date: 12.04.2023)
  • Singh, G. (2021, October 27). The ASEAN disunity over AUKUS. Observer Research Foundation. https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/the-asean-disunity-over-aukus/ (Accessed Date: 13.04.2023)
  • Swanström, N., & Panda, J. (2021). AUKUS: Resetting European Thinking on the Indo-Pacific? Stockholm: Institute for Security & Development Policy.
  • Tan, S. S. (2019). The Responsibility to Provide in Southeast Asia Towards an Ethical Explanation. Bristol : Bristol University Press.
  • Thayer, C. A. (2022). The AUKUS Security Arrangement and Its Implications for ASEAN and Southeast Asia. Contemporary Southeast Asia, 26-51.
  • Viet Nam News . (2023, March 23). Việt Nam urges peaceful use of nuclear energy in response to AUKUS submarine deal. Viet Nam News. https://vietnamnews.vn/politics-laws/1501638/viet-nam-urges-peaceful-use-of-nuclear-energy-in-response-to-aukus-submarine-deal.html (Accessed Date: 31.05.2023)
  • Yoshimatsu, H. (2023). ASEAN and Great Power Rivalry in Regionalism: From East Asia to the Indo-Pacific. Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, 25-44.
There are 28 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Ali Demir 0000-0002-7659-0356

Publication Date June 30, 2023
Submission Date April 29, 2023
Published in Issue Year 2023 Volume: 2 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Demir, A. (2023). AUKUS Can Endanger ASEAN Centrality. Bölge Çalışmaları Dergisi, 2(1), 1-20.