Part 5/9:
The Role of International Power and Enforcement
When questioned about international actors, Pujas Duty suggests that the U.S. and other external powers are filling a vacuum because ASEAN countries have been too weak or complacent in defending their territories. While she acknowledges that the U.S. has strategic interests in the region, she advocates for Southeast Asian nations to strengthen their collective resolve and legal enforcement.
She advocates for ASEAN nations to collectively impose stricter regulations against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, arguing that this internal strengthening could prevent the need for external military intervention or alliances like AUKUS or the Quad, which are often seen as escalatory.