The recent ASEAN-Australia Summit in Melbourne was widely well received. Leaders of all member countries, except Myanmar, attended. Some—President Marcos of the Philippines and Prime Minister Anwar of Malaysia—also carried out quite extensive individual programs. Speeches and comments reflected general agreement, and there was an impressive list of follow-up practical actions, many of them with a substantial Australian financial contribution.

The “Leaders’ Vision Statement” was notable for its repeated references to ASEAN “centrality” in the Indo-Pacific. In accordance with ASEAN practice it did not name countries regarded as causing problems, but it was clear as to what some of these problems were and what kinds of behaviour Leaders want to promote. The Statement says, for example, that “We........

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