Trans-ASEAN

A few days ago, the 48th ASEAN Summit concluded in Cebu, Philippines. Leaders of all eleven member states were present, shook hands, posed for photos, and issued a joint statement. On the surface, a routine regional summit ended gracefully. However, what this summit revealed goes far beyond the few statements released at the press conference. ASEAN is facing a survival-level problem: its energy lifeline hangs on the Middle East, its tariff fate is in the hands of the United States, and it is internally torn apart by the rotating chair country. How long can its so-called "non-partisan" diplomatic stance be maintained?