One of the seminal outcomes of this cognisance was the inception of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in July 1993.12 Currently, the ARF13 boasts the participation of 27 countries14 and groups, including prominent geopolitical stakeholders, such as China, the US, the European Union and Canada, extending beyond the confines of the Asian region. [...] This dual approach of the US underscores the complex interplay of interests and tensions within the SCS, where the American actions both challenge China’s claims and seek to reassure the ASEAN nations of their security.66 The FONOPs are closely tied to the sovereignty of nations in the SCS, an area with intricate geopolitical dynamics.67 The FONOPs conducted by the US in the vicinity of the Parace. [...] Ultimately, the contentious issue of FONOPs threatens to weaken the unity and cooperation that ASEAN strives to maintain.70 Vietnam has adopted a policy of non-alignment and the prohibition of foreign military bases on Vietnamese territory in response to the presence of the US in the SCS. [...] While emphasising the significance of bilateral relationships, these documents highlight the efficacy of multilateral approaches in addressing security arrangements within the region.81 The US has been reiterating its commitment towards ‘ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific’.82 At the same time, the establishment of multilateral institutions, such as the Quadrilateral Securit. [...] However, the US does not see any contradiction and perceives the Quad and the AUKUS as a framework to ‘promote security and stability in the region’.83 In fact, the US claims regarding the multilateral groupings, namely, the Quad and the AUKUS, have been one of the reasons for China’s suspicion.
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