Political and security developments in southeast Asia in 2014 reflect efforts on the part of southeast Asian countries as well as asean (the association of southeast Asian nations) to adjust and adapt to the conditions and circumstances of a “new normal” in the wider asis-pacific region: a rapidly changing regional strategic environment where emerging powers display greater assurance of their newfound status, whilst established powers experience relative decline and seek to rebalance against the growing power and influence of their rivals.