Kuala Lampur, Sept. 13 -- The Asia-Pacific has become a theatre of sharper competition and uneasy cooperation. For Asean, the central challenge has always been how to preserve stability while navigating the overlapping rivalries of great powers.

The latest Japan-Australia 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations, held in Tokyo earlier this month, should not be read merely as a bilateral strengthening of ties. Rather, it offers a path that Asean can align with to reinforce its own security, economic resilience, and diplomatic weight.

The joint statement released by Tokyo and Canberra is rich in substance. It pledged deeper collaboration in defence operations, joint exercises, maritime domain awareness, cyber security, advanced t...