Asia-Pacific leaders gathered in Kuala Lumpur on October 27, 2025, for the 20th East Asia Summit, a meeting marked by urgent calls for dialogue and cooperation amid a world brimming with conflict and uncertainty. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim set the tone in his opening remarks, urging the region to "choose dialogue over coercion and cooperation over confrontation," as reported by the Associated Press. Against the backdrop of ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine, escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, and the ever-sharpening rivalry between the United States and China, Anwar's message was one of engagement and multilateralism.
The East Asia Summit, a crucial forum that brings together the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and regional powerhouses like Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the United States, convened to tackle a daunting agenda: political, security, and economic challenges that span continents. This year, the summit welcomed Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa as special guests of Malaysia, highlighting a shared interest in expanding global trade links.
As the summit opened, the diplomatic stage was in flux. U.S. President Donald Trump had just departed Malaysia for Japan, following a busy weekend of ASEAN meetings. During his stay, Trump witnessed the signing of several economic agreements with Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia—part of Washington’s broader strategy to strengthen trade ties and secure access to critical minerals, a move aimed at reducing reliance on China. Trump also took part in a ceremony commemorating the expansion of a Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire, a peace effort brokered with U.S. support earlier in 2025.
According to analysts cited by the Associated Press and other outlets, the summit’s discussions homed in on three hot-button issues: the volatile South China Sea, ASEAN’s response to Myanmar’s prolonged internal conflict, and the growing problem of cross-border scams. On the sidelines, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet reached an agreement to launch a joint task force in November to combat transnational scams, especially those targeting South Koreans—a move that underscores the region’s commitment to practical cooperation.
One of the thorniest topics was the South China Sea, a flashpoint for maritime disputes and great power rivalry. Prime Minister Anwar called for the territorial row to be resolved within ASEAN and its partners, advocating for the long-delayed Code of Conduct to finally move forward. He warned that "outside pressure could escalate tensions" and stressed the need for all parties to respect international law. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. echoed Anwar’s call, pledging to accelerate the Code of Conduct when the Philippines takes over as ASEAN chair next year. Marcos also renewed his criticism of China’s plan to build a "nature reserve" over a disputed shoal, a proposal that has drawn ire from Manila. In response, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiaku blamed what he called the Philippines’ "deliberate infringements and provocations at sea" for the rising tensions.
Turning to other regional crises, Anwar commended Trump’s plan to end the conflict in Gaza but insisted that more must be done to secure a "just and lasting political solution for the Palestinian people." He also voiced concern over North Korea’s recent surge in ballistic missile launches, calling for engagement rather than isolation. "Once we call for engagement in all areas from Gaza to Ukraine to Myanmar, we should not preclude engagement with (North Korea)," Anwar declared, emphasizing a consistent approach to diplomacy.
Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, triggered by the military’s 2021 takeover, remained a central issue. Anwar reaffirmed ASEAN’s commitment to its 2021 Five-Point Consensus, a framework for peace and dialogue. He noted that fighting had subdued but maintained that continued engagement was necessary. The summit did not clarify whether ASEAN would support Myanmar’s plan for a general election. Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, meeting with ASEAN leaders, warned that Myanmar’s planned December 2025 elections—which critics argue will not be free or fair—could "cause further exclusion and instability."
The summit was also a showcase for competing visions of regional leadership. The U.S. delegation sought to present Washington as a reliable partner for Indo-Pacific stability, while China, represented by Premier Li Qiang, underscored the principle of noninterference and promoted connectivity through initiatives like the Belt and Road. Ilango Karuppannan, a former Malaysian ambassador, told the Associated Press that "the 20th East Asia summit will be remembered for the signing of the peace deal and U.S. trade recalibration with Southeast Asia."
Trade and economic resilience were front and center as well. The impact of U.S. tariffs loomed large, with countries looking for ways to hedge against their effects. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced plans to accelerate free trade talks with ASEAN, aiming for completion in 2026 and setting a goal to double Canada’s non-U.S. exports over the next decade. Carney also addressed a recent spat with Washington—after Trump abruptly ended "all trade negotiations" with Canada in response to a television ad opposing U.S. tariffs, Carney said Canada was ready to resume talks whenever the U.S. was willing.
Malaysia, for its part, announced the completion of a free trade pact with South Korea. Earlier in the day, ASEAN members and five key partners—China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand—held a leaders' summit of the Regional Economic Comprehensive Partnership (RCEP), the first since the trade agreement was signed in 2020. Covering roughly one-third of global gross domestic product, RCEP aims to promote regional economic integration. In a joint statement, RCEP leaders vowed to bolster economic resilience amid global uncertainties by enhancing implementation of the agreement and domestic reforms. Economist Doris Liew described RCEP as "a practical hedge against U.S. tariff shocks," noting that while its provisions are looser than some other blocs, it still offers valuable trade diversification for member states.
Amid the weighty discussions, there were moments of levity. Delegates gathered to celebrate Brazil’s President Lula da Silva’s 80th birthday, complete with cake and a birthday song. Lula, feeling "at a high point in his life," told reporters he hopes to live to 120—a wish that brought smiles to a room otherwise preoccupied with the world’s heaviest burdens.
As the summit concluded, the message was clear: in a region defined by diversity and dynamism, the path forward hinges on dialogue, cooperation, and pragmatic engagement. Whether these lofty ideals can withstand the pressures of realpolitik remains to be seen, but for now, the leaders of East Asia have staked their hopes on diplomacy over discord.
