KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 2 (Bernama) — ASEAN member countries must not overlook their responsibility with regards to regional security diplomacy while pursuing their own national interests.

A Singapore-based maritime security analyst, Benjamin Ho, said this to Bernama recently.

“While national priorities should not be ignored for regional well-being, neither should they become an overriding obsession, particularly if long-term returns are sacrificed for short-term rewards,” he said.

He said with China and the US increasingly renewing their interest in the ASEAN region, which encompasses 600 million people, there might be a need for the grouping to choose between the two economic superpowers.