Manila Bulletin
Business
The Economy
ASEAN can rise as global power through strategic influence—PIDS
Business
The Economy
ASEAN can rise as global power through strategic influence—PIDS
ASEAN can rise as global power through strategic influence—PIDS
Published Dec 15, 2025 10:52 am
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos lead the official launch of the Philippines’ Chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2026 at the Foro de Intramuros in Manila on Nov. 14, 2025. The event unveiled the ASEAN Philippines 2026 logo in the shape of a balangay, featuring the standard ASEAN emblem that reflects the unity and stability of Member States, along with the 2026 commemorative stamp. (Noel Pabalate/PPA Pool)
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) could emerge as a global power not through traditional military or economic might, but by leveraging strategic influence, digital leadership, and regional cohesion, state-run policy think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) said in a new report.
ASEAN now comprises 11 member states: the Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and its latest member, Timor-Leste. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced last October that the Philippines will assume ASEAN’s chairmanship in 2026, succeeding Malaysia.
Manila Bulletin reported earlier that the first official meeting of ASEAN under the Philippines’ chairmanship was held on Dec. 10 to 11 in Boracay Island, Aklan province, where leaders aimed to set the regional bloc’s economic agenda for 2026.
In a Dec. 10 discussion paper titled “ASEAN’s Ascent: A Global Power in the Making,” PIDS supervising research specialist Mark Anthony A. Barral and senior research fellow Francis Mark A. Quimba emphasized that a country’s influence in the international system is not determined by material capabilities alone, but also by its capacity to act strategically.
PIDS stressed that while having global influence is important, a country or region must also demonstrate the intention and strategy to act as a global leader.
For ASEAN, the think tank said this involves asserting its own interests, strategic narratives, and autonomy in shaping regional and global governance norms—a path reflected in ASEAN’s consensus-building, non-interference, and regional centrality.
“Rather than mimicking Western or traditional models, ASEAN may seek recognition through its functional centrality and convening leadership,” it added.
The think tank urged ASEAN to “[consider] the multi-dimensionality of polarity,” stressing that the contemporary global order is no longer defined solely by military or economic might, as influence now extends to technological leadership, norm-setting, and control over digital, environmental, and knowledge systems.
“The EU [European Union], for instance, is often seen as a global pole, not because of its military capabilities but due to its regulatory power and norm-setting,” PIDS noted.
It added that if ASEAN strengthens its role in shaping global digital governance, trade standards, environmental policy, or South-South cooperation, it could establish itself as a functional pole of influence, particularly in areas where rulemaking requires collective action beyond the involvement of major powers.
“Polarity is relational and political—a pole does not exist in a vacuum but is often identified in relation to others,” the PIDS paper said.
“To secure its trajectory, even if not a polar status,” the think tank recommended that ASEAN strengthen its internal economic structure and external strategic leverage, including intra-ASEAN economic linkages. It added that fast-tracking the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free-trade agreement (FTA) could deepen trade integration, particularly by harmonizing rules of origin and supply chain standards.
“Building on initiatives like the ASEAN Smart Cities Network, expanding digital IDs and e-commerce interoperability, especially between Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, can help reduce friction in cross-border transactions,” PIDS said.
On security, the paper recommended expanding joint maritime patrols and strengthening disaster response coordination through ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Center) to enhance collective capacity and resilience.
The PIDS paper said that while infrastructure disparities persist in the region, accelerating digital transformation through the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 provides a strategic framework to build digital highways and facilitate cross-border data flows.
“Externally, ASEAN should diversify strategic partnerships beyond the US [United States] and China,” the paper added. “Internally, ASEAN must close development gaps and enhance institutional cohesion.”
PIDS also emphasized that to boost ASEAN’s political credibility and global influence, the bloc must align its internal diversity in governance with its external message of regional leadership. It noted that this includes promoting stronger democratic norms and good governance through peer reviews, regional scorecards, and a more empowered ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) capable of monitoring compliance.
“The ‘ASEAN Way’ of non-interference, while preserving regional unity, must evolve toward more principled pragmatism if ASEAN wishes to be perceived as a political pole,” the paper said.
The think tank said people-to-people ties should be strengthened through youth mobility programs, volunteer corps, and expanded scholarships under ASEAN University Network (AUN). It added that ASEAN could also take a more proactive role in promoting and protecting its shared cultural heritage, similar to how the EU advances “European values” abroad, noting that a strong regional identity would enhance ASEAN’s global recognition and soft power.
“Strengthening ASEAN-led security cooperation is also essential, such as through joint maritime patrols, early warning systems, and conflict mediation mechanisms in flashpoints like the South China Sea or Myanmar,” the PIDS paper said.
It further recommended that ASEAN build strategic resilience in energy, food, and digital infrastructure to reduce dependency on any single global actor. The bloc should deepen engagement with non-traditional partners such as India, the African Union, and Latin America, positioning itself not only as a regional anchor but also as a globally relevant player, PIDS added.
The PIDS paper noted that its multidimensional model of polarity shows ASEAN’s rise as a global pole cannot depend solely on economic power, but must leverage its distinctive strengths in convening influence, cultural impact, and regional diplomacy.
“Advancing this goal requires deeper internal coherence through stronger legal enforceability, shared norms, and more effective regional mechanisms, while simultaneously investing in cultural and digital platforms that project Southeast Asian narratives to the world,” it said.
Finally, the think tank said ASEAN must cultivate strategic autonomy, navigating major-power rivalries through an open, multipolar engagement strategy that reinforces its centrality.
“Ultimately, ASEAN’s ascent as a global power will depend not on replicating traditional major-power models, but on developing a uniquely Southeast Asian form of influence grounded in inclusivity, cooperation, and collective resilience,” it added.