The Association of South East Asian Nations was formed on Aug. 8, 1967 in Bangkok by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. In 1984, they were joined by Brunei Darussalam; Vietnam in 1995; Laos and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999.
When the ASEAN was formed, each of the founding members agreed that the organization was to going to be based on the principle of Non-Interference, wherein none of the member-countries will get involved in another member- country’s domestic affairs.
Even the mere criticism of a neighbor-country was prohibited by the principle.
At the 34th ASEAN Summit (Plenary) held in Bangkok in Thailand, President Duterte described the Region’s people as its “greatest resource” , thus, the need to invest in its people if ASEAN wants to achieve a sustainable regional development.
He likewise encouraged the ASEAN to promote greater people-to-people connectivity in the Region, noting that mobility of tourists, students, and skilled workers should be improved to realize the vision of One ASEAN community.
The ASEAN Summit, held June 22 and 23, eyed advancing further the bloc’s shared vision of a people-centered and people-oriented ASEAN community.
Is the ASEAN taking the opportunity to provide the much-needed regional leadership at a time of shifting geo-political power, against the backdrop of the United States’ previous global dominance, defense support, and the shift towards China?
Critics are asking: Is the ASEAN in danger of becoming a low-intensity proxy battlefield?
As openly declared, nations like the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia are unprepared for open conflict with China, or even for negotiating with China over the South China Sea; while the poorer member-nations like Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar have become so dependent on China that analysts call them “client states of Beijing”.
This is one of the reasons why the ASEAN has been unable to formulate a unified declaration when it comes to China’s incursions on the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea.
The disputes on the South China Sea are a severe test of the ASEAN’s unity, purpose and resolve.
China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei all have competing claims over the strategic waterway, where an estimated US$5 trillion in global trade passes through annually.
It is also home to rich fishing grounds, and an indeterminate wealth of oil, gas, and other natural resources in the deep seabed.
China insists on bilateral deals with other nations, leveraging on its size and clout.
This can complicate sovereignty disputes, given the web of overlapping territorial claims.
The importance of a multilateral agreement cannot be understated, and whether ASEAN member-states can think and act collectively is an ongoing challenge. Can the ASEAN achieve its vision of ASEAN: One vision, one identity, one community?
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Author’s email: [email protected]
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