Is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) resilient enough to thrive amid the regional and global transformations taking place today? While the global economy continues its broad-based expansion, disruptive economic, geostrategic, and technological forces may threaten ASEAN’s gains of recent years. To survive, ASEAN members must make important decisions about the role of their community in regional affairs.

Collectively, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is ranked third in terms of population, sixth in gross domestic product (GDP) and fourth in trade value. In the recently concluded ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meeting, it was announced that the combined GDP of the association reached US$2.8 trillion in 2017, a 5.3 percent growth year-on-year, up from 4.8 percent in 2016. Growth is expected to remain stable at around 5.2 percent in 2018 and 2019.

The Southeast Asian region is only just managing to maintain its population but there are indications that the fertility rates of ASEAN member nations are continuing to fall. In 2016, half of ASEAN member countries recorded total fertility rates (TFR) that were indicative of potentially shrinking populations, while two other countries recorded more than 15 percent TFR reduction over the last decade.

From 2007 to 2014, trade by ASEAN nations grew by a value of nearly US$1 trillion to a total of US$2.5 trillion. A quarter (24 percent) of ASEAN’s total trade was within the region, followed by trade with China (14 percent), Europe (10 percent), Japan (nine percent) and the United States (US) (eight percent).

Negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) are now at a “critical stage” with a conclusion “finally in sight,” Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said last weekend.

President Donald Trump will skip two major summits in Asia in November, a move that could stoke concerns in the region about the United States’ (US) reliability as a counterweight to China.The White House said Friday that Vice President Mike Pence would travel to Singapore for an 18-nation summit hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), before heading to Papua New Guinea for an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering.

Yesterday marked the 51st anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN. As per tradition, it was Hanoi’s turn this year to host the annual flag-raising event, where the ASEAN flag is raised to commemorate ASEAN Day. ASEAN was formed on 8 August, 1967 by five founding member nations – Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines – against a backdrop of hostilities and conflict in the region.

Tensions between China and the United States (US) do not seem like easing anytime soon as US State Secretary Mike Pompeo wrapped up his recent tour of Southeast Asia. In this brief tour, Pompeo stopped by three countries – Malaysia to meet with its newly elected Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Singapore for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and Indonesia for a meeting with President Joko Widodo. Prior to his tour of Southeast Asia, Pompeo called for a “free and open” Indo-Pacific.

China wants to stage joint military exercises with Southeast Asian nations in disputed waters, according to a draft document, but insists other countries should be excluded in what analysts say is a bid to diminish the United States’ (US) influence.Beijing's suggestions, which also call for joint oil and gas exploration, as part of efforts to expand its influence in the South China Sea, which it claims almost entirely, and to push back at Washington which has backed countries with overla

Southeast Asia and Europe stressed the importance of pushing back against protectionism and the threat of global trade wars Friday, as their ministers work towards the eventual goal of a region-to-region free trade pact.The United States (US) is embroiled in trade spats with China and close allies including the European Union (EU), imposing tit-for-tat tariffs on billions of dollars’ worth of goods and heightening fears of economic pain that could spread worldwide.At a meeting in Singapore, E