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ASEAN must nurture transformative trait
Without ASEAN, countries of Southeast Asia could remain pawns in the proxy rivalries of extra-regional major powers.
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In consultation: President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi discuss on the sidelines the 30th ASEAN Summit in Manila, the Philippines, on April 29. (Courtesy of the Presidential Office/File)
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ithout hesitation: ASEAN has mattered. Absent ASEAN, countries in Southeast Asia could have continued to be encumbered by deep divisions, distrust and animosity.
Without ASEAN, countries of Southeast Asia could remain pawns in the proxy rivalries of extra-regional major powers.
And a Southeast Asia without A SEAN could have only too easily followed cycles of conflictsunder development-political upheavals.
Challenges to ASEAN’s unity have been well reported. Yet ASEAN has demonstrated its resilience. Ultimately, ASEAN has proven indispensable.
ASEAN’s contributions have been nothing less than transformative. “Strategic trust” has replaced the trust deficits once common in relations among countries of Southeast Asia.
ASEAN “centrality” in the wider region’ s political-security and economic architecturebuilding has usurped the vision of an inconsequential Southeast Asia locked in divisive major power rivalries.
And optimism of economic promise abound in contrast to the challenges of decades past. In keeping with its people-centered promise, ASEAN has taken up respect for, and promotion of, human rights and democratic principles as key goals.
