What does the idea of the ‘ASEAN Way’ convey?

The correct answer is Option (4) → It is a form of an informal, non-confrontationist and cooperative interaction among the ASEAN member countries

Option (1) It is about Act East policy among different ASEAN member countries. — Incorrect. The ‘Act East’ Policy (since 2014), like the earlier ‘Look East’ Policy, is India’s own policy for greater economic interaction with the East Asian nations. It is not a way in which the ASEAN members deal with one another.

Option (2) Following the European Union’s model of global integration. — Incorrect. The EU has built supranational structures and institutions. Unlike the EU, there is little desire in ASEAN for supranational structures; ASEAN works through informal cooperation instead.

Option (3) Connectivity networks between the ASEAN members. — Incorrect. The term is about how the members behave towards one another, not about networks joining them.

Option (4) It is a form of an informal, non-confrontationist and cooperative interaction among the ASEAN member countries — Correct. The ‘ASEAN Way’ is a form of interaction that is informal, non-confrontationist and cooperative, with respect for national sovereignty at its centre.