Event Report : “ASEAN 3.0: Charting Economic Pathways in an Era of Adversarial Trade and Tariffs”

By Abia Fathima and Shilpa Susan John, Research Officers, C3S

“ASEAN 3.0: Charting Economic Pathways in an Era of Adversarial Trade and Tariffs” was conducted on 4th of February, 2026, at CHRIST University, Bangalore. The one-day conference was organised to examine the evolving economic and strategic partnership between India and the ASEAN nations. Set against a global backdrop of protectionism and shifting trade dynamics, the event brought together diplomats, academics, and experts to explore collaborative frameworks for regional stability and economic growth.

The proceedings of the inaugural session commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Manoharan N (Director, CEAS, CHRIST University). Dr. Manoharan emphasised the need to study the set themes and signified the three categories of people who had gathered at the event. He warmly thanked the collaborators, ICWA, C3S and the MEA, and welcomed the resource persons of the following sessions. Following the welcome address, Ms. Aparna Ray, Joint Secretary, PP&R, Ministry of External Affairs, delivered the special address. She congratulated C3S and CEAS for successfully conducting the ASEAN Conference for the third consecutive year. She also highlighted that multilateralism in the current world survives through ASEAN, thus proving to be valuable partners for India. The keynote address was given by Commodore RS Vasan, IN (Retd.), Director General, C3S and Regional Director, National Maritime Foundation (Tamil Nadu Chapter). He signified the importance of Indo-ASEAN relations by quoting “Brother of all Deals” and Indo-ASEAN FTAs being the foundation of the evolving Indian foreign relations. He pointed out certain challenges which India faces currently, such as border clashes, China factor, maritime and lack of supply chain connectivity, etc. Overall, the session emphasised the complexities of the current international trade environment. The session ended with a significant highlight of a book release, Act East at Ten: India-ASEAN Relations and Regional Dynamics.

Session 1, chaired by Dr. Deepa Ollapally, Research Professor of International Affairs, George Washington University, USA, focused on defining mutual strategic objectives. The discussions featured diplomatic perspectives from Malaysia and Thailand, represented by the Honorary Consul Generals Mr. Saravana Kumar Kumaravasagam (Malaysia), and Mr. Racha Aribarg (Thailand), respectively. The dialogue highlighted the need for ASEAN members to harmonize their expectations with India’s regional ambitions. Dr. Shreya Upadhyay provided reflections from the Indian perspective, emphasizing that regional resilience depends on a shared understanding of security and economic sovereignty.

Session 2, chaired by Dr. Madhumati Deshpande, Head, Department of International Studies, Political Science and History, CHRIST University, addressed the “ASEAN-India Manufacturing Axis”. Dr. P. S. Srinivas, Visiting Research Professor, East Asian Institute (EAI), National University of Singapore, discussed strategies for ASEAN to function as a resilient manufacturing hub. He signified the wide gap in the investments of India and China in ASEAN countries and the ability of ASEAN nations to balance industries in times of instability. A critical point of discussion was India’s role in the "China+1" strategy, presented virtually by Dr. Joe Thomas Karackattu, Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Science, IIT Madras,which analyzes how India can serve as a secondary node for global supply chains. Furthermore, Dr. Kiran Varma, Head, Department of Economics, MOP Vaishnav College, Chennai, highlighted the importance of harmonizing digital and green standards to mobilize sustainable finance, suggesting that future stability is linked to technological and environmental integration.

Session 3 focused on the critical issue of securing Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) in the Southeast Pacific and the Andaman Sea, which are vital routes for global trade and energy flows. The session was chaired by Commodore R. S. Vasan, IN (Retd.), Director General, C3S and Regional Director, National Maritime Foundation (Tamil Nadu Chapter), who highlighted the growing risks to maritime security due to geopolitical tensions and non-traditional threats such as piracy, trafficking, and grey-zone activities.

Dr. Shristi Pukhrem, Director of the Act East Centre and Visiting Fellow at India Foundation, spoke virtually on the impact of geopolitical rivalry and maritime threats in the Southwest Pacific, with a focus on the Philippines. She stressed the need for regional cooperation to protect trade routes and ensure economic stability. Cmde. Udai Rao (Retd.), former Principal Director of Naval Intelligence, discussed security challenges in key chokepoints of the Andaman Sea and Southeast Asia. He underlined how non-traditional threats can disrupt shipping and regional stability. Vice Admiral M. P. Muralidharan (Retd.) explained India’s role as a Net Security Provider in the Indian Ocean Region and how India balances major powers to ensure maritime stability. The session ended by an engaging Q&A. 

Session 4 featured a student panel discussion on “Green Finance and Sustainable Infrastructure: ASEAN as a Leader in the Global Green Economy”. The session was chaired by Ms. Arul Braighta, Research Officer, C3S, who set the context by highlighting the growing importance of sustainable development and climate-friendly investments in Southeast Asia. 

The student discussants from CHRIST University and Nalanda University examined how ASEAN can move beyond narrow, checklist-style compliance by working towards a harmonised ASEAN Green Taxonomy that supports an equitable transition and economic resilience. They highlighted the role of green finance as a strategic tool for ASEAN 3.0 to build sustainable infrastructure amid trade wars and tariff fragmentation. Speakers also discussed the idea of the Green Bridge under Asian +3 cooperation to link investment with climate action. Public–private partnership (PPP) models for nature-based solutions and regional grid integration across ASEAN were identified as practical pathways to scale renewable energy and climate adaptation.

An intra-panel discussion followed which encouraged critical engagement among the students. Dr. Shalini B, Assistant Professor of International Studies, Political Science and History, offered expert observations, appreciating the students’ insights and suggesting ways to strengthen policy frameworks and regional collaboration. The session concluded with an interactive Q&A and closing remarks by the Chair.

The valedictory session marked the conclusion of the conference with reflections on key discussions and future directions. Dr. Fr. Jose CC, Vice Chancellor, CHRIST University, Bangalore, delivered the Valedictory Address, highlighting the importance of academic engagement, youth participation, and policy-oriented dialogue in addressing contemporary regional and global challenges. He appreciated the collaborative efforts of scholars, practitioners, and students in enriching the discussions across sessions. 

Mr. Rishabh Nalte, Research Affiliate, CEAS, CHRIST University, presented a concise summary of the day’s proceedings and key takeaways. He outlined major themes such as maritime security, regional cooperation, green finance, and sustainable infrastructure, and stressed the need to translate dialogue into actionable research and policy initiatives. The conference concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Ms. Judith Blessy, Research Affiliate, CEAS, CHRIST University, Bangalore, who acknowledged the speakers, partners, organisers, and participants for their contributions. The event ended with refreshments, providing an opportunity for informal networking and interaction among participants.