The ASEAN conference has concluded amid widespread discussions on how to address China's influence in the Pacific.
Although the 10 ASEAN members shared concerns about China's influence, they displayed a notable lack of consensus on how to address its actions in the South China Sea.
A recent maritime incident refocused the conference towards regional security — with two coastguard ships, one Chinese and one Filipino, colliding in the contested waters.
Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong found herself on a collision course of her own with her ASEAN counterparts, highlighting divergent approaches to China's assertive maneuvers in the region.
"I think there are a range of different views within ASEAN about great power competition," Wong said. "All the countries in the region are navigating our strategic circumstances, and every country will bring its own national interest to that, but I do think we do share a desire for a peaceful, stable, prosperous region."
David Capie, an expert in regional affairs, pointed out the complexity of ASEAN's relationship with China,
"China is a hugely important part of every aspect of regional politics, hugely important to the economies of Southeast Asia, but also a challenge to some of their security interests," he said. "There are 10 members of ASEAN, and they all have different kinds of relationships with China, some are fairly close, and some, like the Philippines currently, are in a fractious and confrontational spot."
Meanwhile, New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, absent from the ASEAN "family photo", opted for a more industrial setting at Fonterra headquarters in Melbourne, after attending the summit's gala dinner.
Despite not being an ASEAN member, Luxon was personally invited by Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to the dinner.
His visit underscored the significance of dairy, New Zealand's largest export to the ASEAN nations.
NZ-China relationship 'more than transactional'
According to MFAT, the bloc is New Zealand's third-largest trading partner, with exports having surged over 50% in the last two years, reaching $9.66 billion in 2022.
Trade expert Charles Finny said, "These relationships aren’t just transactional; they're about more than trade. We’ve got deep, longstanding relations. Governments have been investing in the region for a long time. We need to continue this to grow our trade and economic relations."
Foreign Minister Winston Peters was set to visit Indonesia and Singapore next week, aiming to advance New Zealand's trade and security interests, including the pursuit of a free trade deal with India.
"We're trying to look at every possible trade opportunity now," Peters said.
Amid China's growing influence, New Zealand's government appeared to fortify its relationships with ASEAN leaders — a task made all the more challenging by the current geopolitical climate.
As the Australia-ASEAN summit draws to a close, Prime Minister Albanese planned to announce a $60-million package to strengthen ties with the bloc, which includes new scholarships, fellowships, and the establishment of a new ASEAN-Australia centre in Canberra.
Leaders were also expected to tackle other pressing issues in their final statement, including the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.
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