China and ASEAN must prioritise climate cooperation

Phnom Penh (ANTARA) - As member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) suffer the impacts of climate change and extreme weather, cooperation with China must be prioritised to address these urgent challenges. ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, previously known as the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) in Singapore, recently published the “State of Southeast Asia: 2026 Survey Report”. The report identifies “climate change and extreme weather” as the most pressing challenge in Southeast Asia and, for the first time, the top concern in most countries. Southeast Asian nations, particularly Cambodia, are experiencing floods, droughts, heatwaves, and severe storms that directly disrupt daily life. Farmers face crop failures, tourism slows, and food prices surge sharply. These risks are no longer long-term threats but have immediate household budget impacts. Clearer scientific explanations and intensified media coverage, especially on social media, have made it easier to link these events to climate change. Consequently, the public increasingly views climate change not as a future threat but as an ongoing crisis with direct personal consequences. The most climate-vulnerable ASEAN countries have called for practical cooperation, such as early warning systems, disaster response, and resilience-building. China and Southeast Asia must prioritise mutually beneficial collaboration in green infrastructure development, accelerating the region’s energy transition through China’s advanced renewable energy technologies. Joint disaster prevention initiatives, particularly satellite data sharing for early warning systems, would significantly enhance regional resilience. Furthermore, advancing climate-smart agriculture ensures food security while deepening economic ties. Southeast Asian nations view China as a key and proactive partner capable of providing large-scale, affordable solutions. With joint efforts to meet high environmental standards and sustainable, transparent investment models, there is strong optimism that China’s participation will drive meaningful progress, strengthen local capacity-building, and realise a shared low-carbon future for the region. In promoting cooperation with Southeast Asia, China channels climate initiatives through technical platforms, keeping them separate from complex bilateral issues. Prioritising shared benefits such as marine conservation, disaster preparedness, and pollution control helps build broad consensus and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation. For countries like Cambodia, emphasising climate-resilient infrastructure development is crucial. Clear institutional separation is also vital: climate partnerships must remain focused, delivering outcomes based on respective capabilities. By emphasising transparency, inclusivity, and ASEAN’s central role, China can ensure climate cooperation remains a regional shared interest. Chinese companies can contribute to tackling climate change and extreme weather in Southeast Asian nations. Effective localisation is key. Manufacturing and maintaining green technologies directly in Southeast Asia will create local jobs and deepen trust. Moreover, high-visibility contributions such as solar-powered microgrids or rapid-deployment clean water systems deliver immediate local benefits. Over time, consistent and reliable measures will reinforce China’s role as a responsible global power and a collaborative, proactive leader in delivering sustainable climate solutions across the region.