Trilateral summit to reshape Asia-Pacific dynamics

The Star

25-05-2025

PETALING JAYA: The inaugural Asean, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and China Summit set to take place on Tuesday will mark a new phase in the grouping's regional diplomacy amid escalating geopolitical tensions.
Asia West East Centre (Asia WE), director and co-founder Abdolreza Alami said the summit has the potential to redefine order in the Asia-Pacific region and by leveraging the existing trade framework, it seeks to counter external pressures from US tariffs.
'By focusing on economic, energy and security cooperation, the summit strengthens regional autonomy, positioning this triangle as a counterweight to Western-dominated systems,' he said.
Abdolreza said in 2023, Asean-China trade reached US$911.7bil while GCC-China trade hit US$316bil and this underscores the robust economic foundation of this partnership.
'This summit offers Malaysia a chance to showcase its diplomatic leadership, making it a calculated step towards strengthening a regional group, not a high-stakes gamble,' he added.
Universiti Malaya International and Strategic Studies Depart­ment's Assoc Prof Khoo Ying Hooi said aligning these countries will be challenging, given the different political systems and worldviews.
'There is also the risk of Asean's own agenda getting sidelined as bigger powers take centre stage.
'While this summit opens a new chapter in trilateral engagement, its long-term value depends on whether it empowers Asean or merely pulls it deeper into external rivalries,' she said.
Khoo said neutrality, which is Asean's advantage, is becoming increasingly harder to maintain as geopolitical tensions rise.
'Closer ties with China and the GCC are economically logical, but politically, they open Asean up to questions about alignment,' she said.
Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute analyst Anas Hayyan said the trilateral summit was a strategic move and it reflects Asean's confidence to act as a regional group with leverage.
'Instead of picking sides in a polarised world, Asean is showing it can create value by connecting regions,' he said.
He warned that challenges still lie ahead, among them the contentious South China Sea disputes.
'Geopolitical tensions, particularly in the South China Sea, could strain Asean-China relations, with some Asean nations cautious of China's assertiveness,' he said.
Anas also commended Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's quiet breakthrough in Myanmar, where unprecedented talks were held between the military junta and the opposition National Unity Government.
'But the Myanmar crisis poses a challenge as Asean struggles to advance the Five-Point Consensus amid ongoing conflict and the recent earthquake,' he added.
Wisma Putra said the summit is expected to formalise shared objectives between Asean, China and GCC countries in economic and digital connectivity, infrastructure and sustainable development.
Former ambassador Datuk Ilango Karuppannan said trilateral meetings highlight a growing awareness in the Global South that countries and regions can work together based on mutual interest, without waiting for approval from traditional powers.
'This summit could be a turning point on the emerging multipolar world – a rare moment when Asean isn't just reacting, but shaping global dynamics,' said Ilango, who is also a Universiti Malaya (UM) adjunct professor of regional and global affairs.
But he stressed the importance of Asean maintaining its neutrality, which could be under pressure as it seeks deeper ties with both China and GCC countries.
The 46th Asean Summit will take place tomorrow, followed by the 2nd Asean-GCC Summit, followed by the Asean-GCC-China Summit.
Wisma Putra is taking the lead in organising the summits under Malaysia's Asean chairmanship this year.