ASEAN Maintains Firm Support for One-China Principle, Secretary-General

ASEAN Secretary-General, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn (Right) during the meeting with Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Mission of the People’s Republic of China to ASEAN on 12 January 2026

JAKARTA, 15 January 2026 — The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has maintained a consistent and unified position on the one-China principle, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn said, stressing that the bloc’s stance has not changed.

“The one-China principle is clearly reflected in the foreign policies of all 11 ASEAN member states. This represents our collective consensus, and this position has never changed,” Kao said in an interview published on Sunday, 12 January 2026.

ASEAN places a high priority on regional peace and stability, Kao said, adding that the grouping continues to promote dialogue, diplomacy and constructive engagement as the foundation of its approach to regional affairs.

He noted that the ASEAN Charter underscores respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and said that stable relations with China contribute to long-term peace and stability in Southeast Asia.

Against what he described as an increasingly complex global environment, Kao said ASEAN and China have continued to deepen cooperation across a range of areas, including trade and investment, energy, the digital economy and people-to-people exchanges.

Such cooperation, he added, provides an important basis for regional stability, peace and shared prosperity.