The U.S. Selling "Peace Through Strength" in ASEAN Faces Cold Reception

Reference News Network reported on November 2 The Russian newspaper "Izvestia" published an article titled "Seeking Peace Through Strength: The U.S. Proposes a Defense Agreement to Southeast Asia" on October 31, authored by Ksenia Logunova. The full text is translated as follows:

The United States has proposed a framework agreement for defense cooperation to ASEAN, which is essentially a brand new "seeking peace through strength" plan. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin assured ASEAN partners that Washington will fulfill its security commitments and maintain its existing military presence in the Asia-Pacific region. However, Southeast Asian countries have seen their trade with China exceed $1 trillion, and concerns about U.S. regional policies are rising, making them reluctant to exchange their strategic autonomy for U.S. security guarantees.

During the expanded ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting hosted by the Philippines, Austin stated: "We propose to develop a U.S.-ASEAN defense cooperation framework. This will become a pragmatic document that will guide our cooperation in the coming years."

He added that Washington hopes to support Southeast Asian partners to counter China's influence. He emphasized that the U.S. will work with ASEAN partners to "seek peace through strength."

During the meeting, he also held bilateral talks with several Southeast Asian defense ministers, stating that the goal of these talks was to "promote a shared responsibility mechanism" and "enhance deterrence capabilities" in the region.

After the U.S.-Philippines defense minister talks, they announced the launch of an alliance command and control system upgrade project. The U.S. committed to increasing financial support for the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The Philippines has faced confrontations with Chinese vessels in relevant waters of the South China Sea multiple times. For Manila, deepening cooperation with the U.S. on this issue and promoting the modernization of its military is crucial.

Chinese Ministry of Defense spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang accused the rotating chair country, the Philippines, of "using public resources for private ends," heavily setting obstacles to hinder China's participation, stating that "most ASEAN countries have expressed doubts and opposition."

ASEAN countries have varying attitudes towards U.S.-China relations. While many countries welcome the U.S. military presence in the region, they also hope to maintain close economic ties with China and avoid getting caught up in great power confrontations.

Overall, Southeast Asian countries refuse to take sides and pursue strategic autonomy. At the same time, the economic ties between multiple Southeast Asian countries and China continue to strengthen: China has maintained its position as ASEAN's largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years.

The Singapore Yusof Ishak Institute of Southeast Asian Studies released the "Southeast Asia Situation: 2026 Annual Survey Report," stating that if forced to choose between "aligning further with China" and "aligning further with the U.S.," 52% of regional elites would choose China, while 48% would choose the U.S.

One of the core topics of this meeting was the reliability of U.S. security commitments. The war in Iran has heavily consumed U.S. military resources, leading Asian allies to begin questioning whether the U.S. would still be able to provide support to allies in the event of a conflict in the Asia-Pacific region.

Additionally, ASEAN countries did not adopt the proposal by Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi to integrate various bilateral military exercises and arms cooperation into a multi-tiered security network. Kishi emphasized the so-called "China threat theory," claiming that Japan would produce medium-range air-to-air missiles compatible with the F-35 fighter jets domestically with U.S. involvement.

Alexander Korolev, deputy director of the Center for International and European Studies at the Higher School of Economics in Russia, stated: "The rhetoric of 'seeking peace through strength' is very straightforward and is completely different from the previous approach of the U.S. Democratic presidents towards ASEAN; it no longer emphasizes institutional binding or glorifies ASEAN's central position. The meaning is clear and practical: to receive U.S. military assistance, one must accept new rules of the game."

He noted that Washington is actually sending the following signal: broadly defined peace is a privilege of the strong; peace can only be achieved through the use or projection of power, not through diplomacy, international law, or international mechanisms. This is completely contrary to ASEAN's consistent position and its role as an international political entity.

Korolev interpreted: "Washington's current logic is: if you want U.S. security guarantees, then let's conduct joint exercises, increase defense budgets, achieve radar coordination, and always remember that peace must be obtained through strength. The U.S. actively proposing defense cooperation to ASEAN itself indicates that Washington is trying to push this primarily economic cooperation organization onto a military cooperation track." (Translated by Zhao Zhipeng)