Strategic Resilience to Supply Chain Vulnerabilities: How ASEAN Firms Are Adapting to Multiple Uncertainties

ASEAN has become a major hub in global supply chains (GSCs). In recent years, however, GSCs have been reshaped by pandemic-related disruptions, rising US–China geopolitical tensions, growing protectionism, stricter sustainability requirements, and rapid digitalisation. Drawing on firm-level interviews and surveys, this paper examines the combined effects of these developments, with particular attention to how firms are responding and the common challenges they face. The findings show that manufacturing firms are diversifying their procurement, production, and export markets to strengthen supply chain resilience. However, diversifying supply sources and production locations alone is insufficient. Building resilience also requires an integrated value chain approach that strengthens the performance of the entire system. In the short term, policy priorities include stricter enforcement of rules of origin and stronger monitoring of transshipment. Over the medium term, priorities include deeper regional integration through lower non-tariff barriers, harmonised standards, and improved connectivity under existing trade frameworks. In the long term, competitiveness will depend on industrial upgrading, supplier development, decarbonisation, and digital transformation.