Asia-Pacific security at a crossroads?

Editor's Note: The latest Shangri-La Dialogue has reignited debate over the future of Asia-Pacific security. Is the region moving toward greater cooperation, or are competing security visions driving deeper divisions? How should countries balance stability, strategic autonomy, and growing geopolitical competition? On this episode of The Hub, Wang Guan is joined by Lim Tai Wei, professor of Economics at Soka University; Zoon Ahmed Khan, research fellow at the Center for China and Globalization; Rong Ying, chair professor at Sichuan University; and Xue Song, associate professor at the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University. Together, they examine the evolving security landscape across the Asia-Pacific, and discuss the growing importance of maritime security, alliance coordination among the US and its partners, and the strategic implications of regional mechanisms. They also delve into competing perspectives on China's role in regional security, look into the ongoing debates surrounding the South China Sea, and assess the impact of the so-called South China Sea arbitration ruling a decade later. The guests further discuss ASEAN's strategic autonomy, the challenges of maintaining regional stability amid rising geopolitical tensions, and China's vision for a security framework based on common security rather than military blocs.