From Japan to Pakistan, Mongolia to the South Pacific, the question persists. How best to deliver sustained prosperity to all people across the Indo-Pacific, amid the growing inequality and slowing economies that are contributing to protests not just in Hong Kong but around the world.
Asia is at a crossroads. As government and business leaders gather in Bangkok for the 35th ASEAN summit and related summits, as well as the East Asia summit and the Indo-Pacific Business Forum, it is a time for choosing.
Individuals, businesses, communities and nations across the region have benefited from a free and open Indo-Pacific. That direction and path to prosperity should be adhered to even if few wish to be seen as taking sides amidst tensions and contrasting world views between the United States and China. Japan is a shining example of the benefits of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.