In the past decades, through the Belt and Road Initiative, China has implemented maritime public goods projects—such as search-and-rescue operations, tsunami early-warning systems, sustained investments in oceanographic research, and cutting-edge climate science. These efforts underscores Beijing growing emphasis on maritime cooperation. 

Malaysia has consistently expressed its desire to see the South China Seas preserved as a zone of peaceful cooperation and sustainable development. Unfortunately, the region has increasingly become a theater of geopolitical tension and military rivalry. In this context, China’s public good initiatives hold the potential to help shift the narrative – from one of territorial disputes and strategic competition to one centered on maritime cooperation and technological progress. 

China’s application of its technological capabilities for the global public good holds tremendous promise. Since its inception in 2013, the BRI has evolved into a comprehensive, multidimensional platform with far-reaching impact, particularly in the Global South. The Digital BRI, for instance, is enabling developing nations to leapfrog traditional stages of development and accelerate their transition to knowledge-based economies. Similarly, the Health Silk Road is strengthening global public health systems and enhancing preparedness for future pandemics. Meanwhile, China's advancements in green technology are driving the Green BRI, supporting countries like Malaysia in our shift toward greener, more sustainable development pathways. 

Nonetheless, the marine ecological environment continues to intensify. A Survey Report on the Coral Reef Ecosystem of Tiexian Jiao and Niu’e Jiao, released on 25th April,  highlights a troubling trend: irresponsible human activities has degraded the coral reef ecosystem of the South China Sea severely, and thereby triggering partial ecosystem collapse. The report is authored by the Ministry of Natural Resources of China.

(A Survey Report on the Coral Reef Ecosystem of Tiexian Jiao and Niu’e Jiao is released on 25th April, 2025)

This ecological deterioration offers a powerful metaphor for our geopolitical reality. Just as coral reefs depend on balance and cooperation among species to survive, regional political stability is built on mutual restraint, adherence to international norms, and sustained multilateral cooperation. When one actor disturbs this equilibrium, whether in nature or geopolitics, the entire system begins to unravel.

In the South China Sea, this delicate balance has been increasingly undermined by stakeholders prioritizing narrow national-interests over the broader common good. The involvement of external actors—some of whom lack a genuine stake in regional peace and stability—has further contributed to the erosion of trust and the destabilization of the regional order.

ASEAN member states uphold the principle of non-interference as a cornerstone of regional diplomacy. This principle is grounded in the understanding that while states pursue their national interests, they are also expected to act in ways that contribute to the collective good. However, when the actions of a single member risk undermining regional stability, ASEAN may be compelled to voice their concerns in order to safeguard the broader regional interest.

ASEAN is also founded on two other core principles: ASEAN centrality and neutrality. To safeguard the region’s sovereignty and autonomy, ASEAN has consistently upheld a non-aligned policy—one that promotes open and inclusive engagement with all responsible external partners who respect ASEAN centrality and support its role as the driving force in regional affairs.

ASEAN neutrality resonates with a classical Confucian principle: zhongyong (The Doctrine of the Mean), which advocates pursuing a middle path and avoiding extremes. It emphasizes balance, moderation, and harmony—not only within the individual, but also within society and, by extension, the natural world.

This principle aligns closely with the observations and warnings of Chinese scientists: that "any species in an ecosystem, once it grows out of control, will ultimately lead to its own destruction." Indeed, unsustainable development has disrupted the natural order and now poses an existential threat to humankind. 

For this reason, the ethos of zhongyong is critically important. We must embrace the virtues of temperance and self-regulation, exercising restraint in consumption, pursuing measured growth, and committing to the responsible stewardship of our natural resources.

In the realm of global governance, zhongyong also holds instructive value. It encourages dialogue, mutual understanding, and compromise—key ingredients for international cooperation in an increasingly multipolar and interdependent world. When powerful nations pursue unilateral dominance—politically, economically, or militarily—they disrupt the global "ecosystem," often to their own detriment. A Confucian approach would advocate for moderation in power projection, respect for diversity, and the cultivation of moral leadership (dezheng) rather than coercive force. 

Another pertinent classical Chinese concept is hui gui—the idea of returning to one's roots. In the natural world, this profound notion of "return" is embodied by phenomena such as continent-spanning migratory birds and spawning anadromous fish, all of which instinctively journey back to their origins. 

The concept of hui gui holds profound relevance in the face of today’s ecological devastation. In ancient Daoist cosmology, the Way (Dao) envisions all things coexisting in harmony as one. Within this oneness lies a natural rhythm: the sun rises and sets; the planets revolve through the galaxy.

Yet, due to human activity, the rhythm of the natural world on Earth has been disrupted. In this context, the idea of “return” becomes a moral imperative—a call to turn away from excess, anthropocentrism, and short-sighted exploitation, and to move instead toward ecological humility and sustainable coexistence.

From a global governance perspective, the concept of hui qui calls on us not only to live in harmony with the natural world, but also to embrace our shared identity as one human family. In the face of growing backlash against globalization and multilateralism, the idea of “return” takes on a hopeful dimension. It can signify a return to dialogue, to mutual responsibility, and to the recognition that no nation exists in isolation. Just as migratory species cross national borders in their search for survival, so too must nations seek common purpose across boundaries.

In summation, amid a worsening ecological crisis and growing geopolitical fragmentation, the wisdom of ancient Chinese philosophical traditions remains deeply relevant. zhongyong, for example, offers a powerful framework for fostering ethical restraint, ecological balance, and constructive global engagement. Similarly, the notion of hui gui provides a profound lens through which to view our current challenges—calling for the renewal of ecological consciousness and the revival of cooperative global ethics. It reminds us that, at times, moving forward wisely requires first turning back—to the Earth, to one another, and to the enduring truths that sustain all life.

(Author: Peter T. C. Chang, visiting senior fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore)