Regional power connectivity in Southeast Asia: the role of regional cooperation

Abstract

ASEAN is an interesting case study of regional power connectivity in Asia and the Pacific due to its geographic location and ongoing power connectivity within and beyond ASEAN. This paper reviews ASEAN’s power connectivity within ASEAN and between ASEAN and its neighbours (hereafter ASEAN connectivity). Through literature survey, it identifies challenges to the ASEAN connectivity from political, legal, economic and technical perspectives. Based on these analyses, it then explores what, how and when regional cooperation may be able to facilitate ASEAN power connectivity.