Why big power rivalry is the ‘main threat’ to Asean maritime security

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Fan ChenFebruary 17, 2026 at 09:00 AM

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ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn identified increasing strategic mistrust between major powers as the primary threat to maritime security in Southeast Asia at the Munich Security Conference. While not naming specific countries, this concern stems from the growing naval presence of both China and the United States in the South China Sea. China's expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea have led to ongoing disputes with several ASEAN nations, particularly escalating tensions with the Philippines. The United States has increased its defense cooperation and naval operations in the region to counter China's claims. ASEAN hopes to finalize a code of conduct with China this year to de-escalate tensions.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Manila 40% Beijing 40% Munich Security Conference 50% Brunei 50% Vietnam 60% Malaysia 60% Philippines ×270% United States ×280% Kao Kim Hourn ×390% South China Sea ×290% China ×590% Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) ×390%

Keywords

maritime security 100% great power rivalry 90% south china sea 80% asean 70% china 60% strategic mistrust 60% territorial disputes 50% united states 50% naval presence 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.40

Source Transparency

Source

South China Morning Post

Classification Confidence

90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis.

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maritime security great power rivalry south china sea asean china strategic mistrust territorial disputes united states naval presence

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