The July 2024 East Asia Summit highlighted ASEAN's commitment to the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) amid challenges from minilateral defense arrangements and economic fragmentation. While ASEAN aims for an inclusive regional architecture, numerous minilateral alliances, such as AUKUS and the Japan-Philippines-US cooperation, undermine this goal by primarily targeting China. Concurrently, Malaysia is enhancing economic ties with China while navigating US-China tensions, as evidenced by recent agreements and investments, positioning itself strategically in the semiconductor supply chain. Additionally, Malaysia's role in ASEAN is under scrutiny as it balances its relationships, particularly in light of regional conflicts and its recent application to join the BRICS bloc. Malaysia's chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025 will test its diplomatic skills, especially in managing relationships with both China and the US while advocating for regional cohesion. The ongoing geopolitical landscape necessitates careful diplomacy to address issues like the South China Sea disputes and the crisis in Myanmar.