Sport as a Diplomatic Tool: The Southeast Asian Games and ASEAN initiatives have fostered regional unity, promoting cooperation and collective identity through sports.
Cultural and Historical Bonds: Sports diplomacy leverages shared cultural and historical ties in the region to ease political tensions and foster a sense of community.
China’s Role: China’s soft power in Southeast Asia extends to sports diplomacy, enhancing political and economic relationships through sporting partnerships and infrastructure development.
Introduction
Sport has turned into a geopolitical instrument that has bridged relations between many countries, cultures, and societies of the Southeast Asian region, it is a traditional and close-knit society with strong cultural roots, sport has become an integral part of their tradition impacting their strategic posture.
Historical Context
Southeast Asia emerged as a product of the postwar, postcolonial era, after the Cold War, with similar religious, cultural, political, and economic bonds that helped them ally for geopolitical reasons. Sport was not left behind, the Southeast Asian Games and ASEAN represented parallel efforts to forge a cooperative purpose and collective identity out of these strands of proximity, diversity, and common experience.
The start of the Peninsular Games in 1959-75 followed by the Southeast Asian Games in 1977 which is held once in two years has helped the ASEAN member states to perform at the Olympics. Games stand as a bridge between Southeast Asian countries despite there being many problems between them these games create a family bond within these countries. Being “family,” they can overlook these mistakes, and the games are managed with this sense of reassurance. These games are organized every two years and have become a key element for mutual partnerships between the countries. This ease is something that cannot be experienced in the Asian Games or the Olympics, considering it is something that can be ascribed to maritime Southeast Asian society.
During the 2019 SEA Games those friendly, accommodating athletes and fans of the aspiring new nation in search of its sporting identity in the SEA Games competition tier, that is Timor Leste. The response to Timor Leste’s first medal demonstrated beyond anything that working as a region we are a family, and that also that as a region and as a nation we are also one in dreaming.
Sports Diplomacy in the region
‘Sports diplomacy’ has emerged as a tool in Southeast Asia by which the countries can engage themselves through sporting activities. SEA Games and other regional sporting competitions opened venues for debates among the competing nations. It has promoted regional solidarity as a good ground for enhancing stability in the region. Scholars have pointed out the region has a historical and cultural connection with the Southeast Asian nations. Therefore, the cultural factors form a ready-made channel to develop the ‘‘we are feeling’’, which is normally fostered through sporting activities.
ASEAN Games
Aside from that, the Southeast Asian Games also became an arena for managing political tensions. Norms of tolerance and existing cooperation prevail within international relations, which makes it possible to ‘fight not against,’ but with each other. This has provided an opportunity to operate complex political systems together with extending positive feelings through sports.
However, certain factors may be regarded as drawbacks or barriers to the growth of sports for regional integration. Politics enters when matters like historical rivalry, and many related political factors come into the fore and when contractual and ownership disagreements of traditional sports are often manifested in the form of tension and conflict among the participated nations. However, the idea of sport in the context of the community is still greatly conceivable and remains a massive element as a binder. Southeast Asian culturally and historically related nations can enhance their interaction through sports-related program.
The ASEAN Para Games exemplifies this potential by promoting inclusivity and showcasing the talents of different abled athletes. Such initiatives not only foster a sense of community but also highlight the region’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, further strengthening alliances among member states.
China Factor
China’s soft-power engagement in Southeast Asia is more than merely economics and political affairs; it transitioned to sport diplomacy to consolidate relations with countries in the region. The pattern of sport diplomacy in China is beneficial for mutual goodwill and for the improvement of the soft power of China through cultural relation and sporting event. Some of the measures applied in implementing this strategy include entering sport partnerships with Southeast Asian nations, holding international competitions, and encouraging the traditional practices of sports.
China used the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 to display its strength and aspire to world prominence, whereas subsequent events have provided it with means to interact through sport with Southeast Asian nations. The importance of bond between China’s martial arts and traditional games has also helped to strengthen these relations. Besides, many sports-related investments by China in the local sports infrastructure and development programs in Southeast Asia have not only paved way for the growth of local industries but also helped in strengthening close political and economic cooperation among the Southeast Asian countries.
In conclusion, sport has emerged as a powerful tool for shaping geopolitical alliances in Southeast Asia. The SEA Games and other regional sporting events have fostered a sense of unity and cooperation among nations, allowing them to navigate complex political landscapes while celebrating their shared cultural heritage. As Southeast Asia continues to evolve, harnessing the power of sports diplomacy will be crucial for enhancing regional stability and fostering deeper connections among its diverse nations. By recognizing the integral role of sports in shaping alliances, policymakers, and sports organizations can work together to promote peace, understanding, and collaboration across the region.
References
Creak, Simon, and Friederike Trotier. “Sport, Diplomacy, and Regionalism in Southeast Asia: The Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and ASEAN.” Sport in Society, April 23, 2024, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2024.2325971.
Hayase, Shinzo. “Sports and Nationalism in Southeast Asia: SEAP Games/SEA Games, 1959–2019.” 2020 Waseda University, Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, November 25, 2020. https://doi.org/10.57278/wiapstokyu.40.0_1
Horton, Peter. “Sport in Asia: Globalization, Glocalization, Asianization.” In InTech eBooks, 2011. https://doi.org/10.5772/21231.
Heinrich Böll Foundation | Southeast Asia Regional Office. “Sport in Southeast Asia: More Than Medals, It’s the ‘We’ Feeling | Heinrich Böll Foundation | Southeast Asia Regional Office,” September 4, 2020. https://th.boell.org/en/2020/09/04/sport-southeast-asia-more-medals-its-we-feeling.
Wang, Youfeng. “Research on Sports Diplomacy Between China and Southeast Asia and South Asia under the New Situation.” Atlantis Press, January 1, 2017. https://doi.org/10.2991/icesame-17.2017.89.
Balaji Subramanian 
Prajwal K M 
Ananya Gupta & Manav Agarwal