東協的安全戰略目標可用四個P來代表,即進步的(Progress)、和平(Peace)、繁榮(Prosperity)及自主(Empoverment)。其中,進步、和平、繁榮等目標在東協於1967年成立時即已提出,而自主的目標則首見於1971年的《吉隆坡宣言》。東協期能藉此為東南亞營造一個經濟充滿活力、政治享有民主平等的和平環境,以及建立一個免於外來強權支配的自主性共同體。自90年代以來,臺灣議題已成為中共對東南亞安全戰略的主要議題之一,中共及謀防阻臺灣經由推展以經貿實力為基礎的務實外交政策,提昇與東協各國的關系,進而促成對話夥伴國,使臺海情勢發展成為兩個對等政治實體間的衝突。另中共不放棄以武力解決與臺灣的統一問題,此與東協安全戰略目標形成衝突。
The security and strategic goals of ASEAN can be described as the four ”P”: Progress, Peace, Prosperity and Empowerment. The first three Ps were suggested by ASEAN in 1967, but the goal of Empowerment hadn't been addressed until in the Kuala Lumpur Declaration of 1971. ASEAN has hoped to make Southeast Asian countries into full economic forces, establish a lasting peace there based on democracy and equality, free from interference from outside powers and independent. The Taiwan issue has become one of the major issues regarding the PRC's security strategy towards Southeast Asian countries since the 1990s. Since that time, the PRC has been anxious to prevent Taiwan from getting pragmatic diplomacy moving because this become the dialogue partner with ASEAN. Moreover, it will cause the cross-strait situation to become a conflict between two political entities. The security and strategic goals of ASEAN is not compatible with the PRC's resolution which refuses to renounce using force against Taiwan.