ABSTRACT
Great power rivalry in the Indo-Pacific region in the post-Cold War era is driven by China’s phenomenal economic growth and rising military capability. In response to China’s rise, the United States (US) released its National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy, and Indo-Pacific Strategy to push back against China’s challenge to American preeminence in the region. While ASEAN has some concerns over regional polarization and the possible marginalization of its role as the primary regional convenor due to the intensified great power rivalry, South Korea is walking the strategic tightrope between its US treaty ally and its Chinese economic partner. To strike a balance amid the great power rivalry, the middle powers of ASEAN and South Korea have operationalized their respective strategic concepts—ASEAN centrality and the New Southern Policy Plus (NSPP)—to enhance cooperation with one another. This chapter posits that improved relations between ASEAN and South Korea can strengthen ASEAN centrality and the NSPP framework. The different dimensions of ASEAN centrality have allowed its member states to face challenges from multiple fronts and uphold the concept. Meanwhile, the growing convergence of interests between the ROK and the ASEAN states makes mutually beneficial cooperation under the framework of NSPP possible. ASEAN and South Korea can collaborate in many niche areas to enhance ASEAN centrality and promote a multipolar order rather than a bi-polar East Asia torn between the US and China. In so doing, ASEAN and South Korea would be able to exercise “agency” and avoid becoming pawns of the great powers.
