Although ASEAN is the hub of regionalism in East Asia, ASEAN centrality is under pressure of regionalization process. it could be weakened under the transformation process of institutional building of the evolving regional architecture, East Asian Community (EAC).
Taking into account of the roles power and conflict in regionalism, ASEAN way and balance of power are the two main elements of ASEAN centrality which contribute to ASEAN’s success, as a salient regional organization, in strengthening its cohesiveness, and also in maintaining its role as a driving force of East Asian regionalism, which is likely preventing hegemony within the group. So far, the achievements made by ASEAN have been obtained through slow and gradual process of regionalization and through the concept of promoting habit of cooperation rather than interfering on members’ sovereignty which is harming the grouping. Both elements (ASEAN way and balance of power) are put at the heart of ASEAN’s political consideration. In so far as nationalism in Asia remains strong, it seems that ASEAN would maintain the same strategy for East Asian regionalism.