Non-interference principle or doing nothing? role of ASEAN in contemporary geopolitical conflicts: the case of South China Sea dispute

This research is an examination of ASEAN’s non-interference principle towards ASEAN’s role and capacity to respond to the regional geo-strategic conflicts, specifically in the case of South China Sea (SCS) Dispute. In ASEAN, the principle is an embryo to uphold the value of mutual respect of internal affairs, as well as to promote perpetual peace and everlasting amity among member states. However, the respective non-interference principle is question-ing the role of ASEAN towards conflict resolution and management. Thus, it becomes an everlasting debate in academics and practitioners arena, especially in the backdrop of SCS dispute. By applying two different approaches in semi-structured interviews and secondary analysis data, this thesis questioned ASEAN’s way and capacity in addressing the SCS dispute with the criticized non-interference principle. With the development of ASEAN in various sectors over decades, the principle remains firmly strong as a main feature in conflict pre-vention. Nonetheless, in facing critical conflicts such as SCS dispute, the principle is chal-lenged as it hampers ASEAN’s capacity in embracing the dispute. Moreover, the dynamics of the conflict among ASEAN member states and between ASEAN and China will influence the approach towards ASEAN’s conflict management. Therefore, analysing ASEAN’s ca-pacity in handling SCS dispute, with the challenge of non-interference principle and variety dynamics that occurred along the process, would bring a transformative actualization of ASEAN for the future approach and policy production in conflict management