ABSTRACT
This chapter studies the opportunities and challenges of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in a subregional and regional context in the 21st century. It also investigates the perceived threatening strategic role of the People's Republic of China (PRC) as a dialogue partner of ASEAN and one of the founding participants of the ARF, in sustaining security in the two subregional and regional organisations. In addition, it examines the concerted ASEAN response to the Great Powers which affect the balance of regional power in the ARF where Australia, China, India, Japan, Russia and the United States assume increasing dominant roles. In the final analysis, the extent to which the development of the ASEAN and the ARF contributes to the integration or fragmentation of the Southeast Asian region will be addressed.
