ASEAN Must Engage With US, China An ASEAN regional forum in 2019. / ASEAN 436 By Kavi Chongkittavorn 19 May 2021 On April 24 at the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting in Jakarta, the ASEAN chair, Sultan Hassan Bolkiah of Brunei, instructed foreign ministers to hold special meetings with the US and China as soon as possible to further strengthen ASEAN centrality and unity with these most important dialogue partners. It was rather an unusual instruction as ASEAN had already planned to hold post-ministerial meetings with Washington and Beijing in August. The call by the ASEAN chair manifested the urgency and importance of ASEAN’s engagement with external partners, especially the US and China, at this critical moment. A senior Thai diplomat described the grouping’s action as akin to making a great French croissant — the mixture of flour, butter, kneading and then heat and baking time must be perfect — leaving nothing to chance.