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Bravo ASEAN
As a pragmatic leader, Hun Sen realized that taking sides with the murderous junta leader would only tarnish his position among ASEAN leaders.
(From left) Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen, Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhon, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi, Brunei's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Erywan Yusof, Laos' Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith and ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi shake hands as they pose for a family picture during the opening ceremony for the 55th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers Meeting in Phnom Penh, on Aug. 3.
(AFP/Than Chinn Sothy)
S
peaking on behalf of the chair of ASEAN, Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn reminded all foreign ministers participating in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) on Friday that they must maintain composure, dignity, good manners and civilized discussions. The message is very clear that ASEAN as the host has the privilege to set up rules and everybody must respect them -- so do not mess up ASEAN’s home.
Asia’s largest and official security-and-defense forum, established in 1994, indeed proceeded fairly well, although the discussions were tense and there were dramatic walkouts of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russia’s Sergey Lavrov, who reportedly left the room when Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi had his turn to speak.
Amid growing global tension due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as increasing tension between China and the United States on Taiwan, the world needs a formal forum where they can at least express their standpoint. And ASEAN has come forward to offer itself as the place for the world’s major powers to feel comfortable. ASEAN as the host always tries not to be trapped in the middle of a fight between their guests.
One of the reasons for the obedience of the ASEAN guests to the rules of the game was because ASEAN had succeeded in solving its most difficult internal problem, by punishing the Myanmar junta under Gen. Min Aung Hlaing for its barbaric acts. To the surprise of some members, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had proven he was a responsible chair of the regional grouping, although deep in his heart he might prefer to stay away from Myanmar’s internal affairs.
As a pragmatic leader, Hun Sen realized that taking side with the murderous junta leader would only tarnish his position among ASEAN leaders. As the world’s longest-serving prime minister, he also has his problems at home. But regardless of his real motive, Hun Sen deserves a big round of applause.
It was also a shred of evidence that with all its weaknesses, including the rigid implementation of non-interference principles, ASEAN has become one of the world’s centers of peace-making processes, an upgrade from its previous status as a facilitator of confidence-building measures only.
All participants have now grown in confidence in insisting that ASEAN play a central role in the Indo-Pacific peace framework. The fact that the ASEAN- led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has become the world's largest economic-and-trade bloc also made ASEAN more attractive to the world power including conflicting parties like China, the US, Russia and the European Union.
During the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting, Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates signed the instrument of accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). Now 49 countries including the US, China, Japan, France, the United Kingdom, India and Canada have signed the treaty.
The treaty itself is often criticized as merely a piece of paper, but we should also remember such a normative agreement is also crucial to build a better understanding of the danger of a nuclear-arms race. There is an internationally recognized position that ASEAN is a nuclear-free zone, although in practice it is not easy at all to monitor the implementation.
Today is ASEAN’s 55th anniversary. Bravo to ASEAN for the impressive progress achieved during the Phnom Penh ministerial meeting and happy birthday.
