THE 50-YEAR-OLD Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is seen entering the “middle age” crisis especially in the face of new challenges such as growing doubts on globalisation and fast-changing socioeconomic landscapes, raising questions on whether the so-called “Asean way” or the slow process of decision-making would still work in the years ahead.

ASEAN’S toughest challenge is to maintain its unity and centrality, otherwise the Southeast Asian region could become another proxy ground for major powers.