The upcoming 47th Asean Summit, scheduled to take place here from Oct 25 to 28, is set to be a pivotal moment in reshaping the Indo-Pacific’s role in the evolving global order.
The region—home to the world’s major powers including the United States, China, India, Japan, and Russia—is fast becoming the geopolitical axis in 21st-century.
Until recently, global governance has largely been Western-led, with Geneva hosting the World Trade Organization (WTO) and New York seating the United Nations (UN).
However, as the world transitions into a multipolar era, the centre of gravity is shifting eastward, with trade, technology, energy, security and supply chains converging on the Indo-Pacific.
Centre of gravity
Home to four of the world’s largest economies—the US, China, India and Japan, the Indo-Pacific…