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Prabowo lauds ASEAN for keeping region peaceful, prosperous
Prabowo Subianto, who is to chair the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting in November, has praised the 10-nation bloc for maintaining Southeast Asia as one of the most peaceful and prosperous regions in the world today.
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Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto waves to the press on Oct. 21, 2019 as he arrives at the State Palace in Central Jakarta. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
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efense Minister Prabowo Subianto praised ASEAN for its success in keeping Southeast Asia peaceful and prosperous in response to reporters’ queries about the tensions swirling ahead of the 18th East Asia Summit, which opens on Thursday.
Prabowo pointed out that before ASEAN was founded, tension was rife in the region, including Indonesia’s past conflicts with Malaysia and Singapore.
Though he did not specifically refer to any incidents, Indonesia was rigidly opposed to the formation of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, which included Singapore and regions in Borneo. This era, which involved Indonesia launching armed offensives against the fledgling nations, lasted until 1966 and became known as Konfrontasi (confrontation). In March 1965, Indonesian operatives bombed MacDonald House in Singapore, driving a wedge between the two neighbors.
“But today, Southeast Asia is perhaps the most peaceful region in the world. We also have some of the best [economic] growth,” the minister told reporters on Thursday, on the sidelines of the final day of the three-day 43rd ASEAN Summit at the Jakarta Convention Center in Senayan, Central Jakarta.
Prabowo is to chair the 2023 ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) in November, which is expected to adopt a concept paper on the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) from a defense perspective.
Read also: Jokowi says ASEAN stands united, above all else
In this capacity, Prabowo has emerged as a strong proponent of ASEAN’s role in maintaining peace and stability in the region, and has strived on several occasions to maintain friendly relations with major powers while also remaining neutral, in line with Indonesia’s “free and active” foreign policy doctrine.
