Summoning Earth

Chapter 17: New Asian Front

Jakarta Convention Center, Jakarta, Republic of Indonesia - June 16, 2023

The ASEAN summit convened sooner than planned, amid significant international upheaval. Moments before the summit's commencement, presidents, state leaders, and ambassadors from ASEAN member nations gathered at the opening ceremony. As the national anthems played, the atmosphere carried its customary solemnity, but there was an underlying acknowledgment that they were no longer on familiar ground.

ASEAN countries have started to feel a palpable strain as they grapple with the transition to a new world, where the steady presence of external superpowers, particularly the United States, is noticeably absent. The sudden loss of their most prominent strategic partner in the region has placed ASEAN nations, especially those with territorial disputes with China, in a precarious position.

Vietnam and the Philippines, two nations with direct sovereignty interests in the South China Sea, quickly recognized the absence of the United States as a power vacuum that China is likely to attempt filling. Faced with the prospect of military isolation and a rising dependency on China, they began strengthening intra-regional alliances, proposing joint military exercises to protect maritime rights and sovereignty, signaling to China that ASEAN would not be easy prey. Yet, they were acutely aware that, in this new reality, they could no longer rely solely on external assistance but would need to stand resilient on their own.

China, now also present in this new world, showed no intention of scaling back its power expansion. Amidst shifting global conditions and a fractured international political order, China began to pressure smaller nations, imposing stringent economic and political terms in exchange for favorable trade conditions with the world's second-largest economy.

After the opening ceremony concluded, the delegations moved into the Jakarta Convention Center. Within the grand hall, leaders of ASEAN nations ascended the stage, linking hands in a symbolic show of ASEAN solidarity.

Then, President Joko Widodo of Indonesia took the podium, his gaze steady as he addressed the global press. "ASEAN is not merely an economic coalition; each member state possesses its own history and sovereignty, and we are not pawns for greater powers. We sail together through turbulent waves, united to endure this difficult period.

"Each ASEAN member is a critical component, helping make our organization the 'epicenter of growth.' We each have the potential to be strong in our right, but this also entails a collective responsibility to our region and requires long-term strategies that ensure sustainable economic growth and regional peace.

"ASEAN is neither a pawn nor a military political tool subject to outside control; we are sovereign nations with our identities and independent governments. It is essential that we stand united to overcome global political turmoil."

With his address complete, the delegations entered the main conference room. The circular layout of tables and chairs reinforced the summit's focus on equal footing, with even unofficial members like Timor-Leste in attendance.

"What we have outlined here represents our aspirations, but real issues remain between our nations—crises, conflicts, protests, and much more," an official remarked.

"With current political volatility, we are on the cusp of greater dependence on the People's Republic of China. Regarding the South China Sea, even the United States can do little while its forces are strained in allied nations."

"This could ignite anger among the public, particularly those with less education, who might be swayed to violence when provoked or manipulated by anti-Chinese sentiment, even if such unrest were incited by Chinese interests," another official noted.