While some of the most influential nations across the globe are currently engaged in war, recession, and inflation, promoting peace and economic stability is the main focus of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
ASEAN is a regional organization based in Southeast Asia. It is composed of ten members: Brunei Darussalam, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Origin and Host Country
In 2024, Lao PDR takes the helm of the ASEAN Chairmanship. This year’s theme is “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience.” Centering the ASEAN Community through opportunities and responding to emerging challenges showcases the ASEAN 2024 theme.
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR), commonly known as Laos, is the ASEAN 2024 host country. Laos is situated in Southeast Asia and is widely associated with being the “Land of a Million Elephants,” as it will bring prosperity to Laotians.
In 1967, ASEAN was established through the “Bangkok Declaration ” in Bangkok, Thailand, with five founding fathers from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam attended in 1984, followed by Vietnam in 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999.
Global Standing
As the fourth largest economy in the world by 2030, just on the scale of the US, China, and India. Approximately 60 percent of ASEAN’s total population is currently under the age of 35. Making the region a vibrant market for technology, artificial intelligence discoveries, and all those advanced sciences—robotics, social media, e-commerce platforms, and more. By 2030, half of such a demography will join the middle class.
ASEAN Day
Happy 57th birthday, ASEAN! Every 8th of August, the ASEAN community celebrates its foundation day after 1967. This commemoration is a reminder of the ASEAN founding fathers aspirations and how they evolved into what ASEAN is all about in today’s contemporary world. The 57th ASEAN Day spotlights the connectivity and resiliency among member nations in areas such as sustainable development, digital transformation, and resilient economies. ASEAN fostered economic upscale, social transformation, and cultural appreciation through government-to-government and people-to-people relations through shared and collaborative efforts to adapt to an evolving global landscape.
The Status Quo
ASEAN is poised to be a strong regional block in the Asian region. Based on the progress of ASEAN, it can be observed that its outstanding features, such as its strategic geographic location, diverse cultures, customs, traditions, and differences in political frameworks and philosophies, are also threats to its very core. A region with such diverse cultures may be a dilemma in the future.
The South China Sea Code of Conduct
ASEAN hopes to complete the South China Sea code of conduct by 2026 amidst uncertainties and differences with national interests. During the visit of ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn in June 2024 to promote the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between ASEAN and the United States in Washington, he acknowledged the situation that continues to escalate; thus, direct parties were asked to exercise restraint.
For many years, claimants have been seriously pushing for a code of conduct, but the gravity may seem to be different from that of the non-claimants, as they may not want to risk their respective relations with China. The code of conduct was always approaching, but it never reached its conclusion of becoming legally binding, and China has never accepted such a position.
Diverse positions, complex considerations, and divided aspirations are real reflections of the absence of the ASEAN stand in the South China Sea Code of Conduct. ASEAN is certainly not united when it comes to the code of conduct. The Philippines and Vietnam maintain open communication with China independently and simultaneously. The Philippines, for instance, has experienced different unfriendly incidents that have resulted in diplomatic protests against China.
Myanmar, Burma Conflict
For more than three years, the member states of ASEAN have been undetermined to push for a regional resolution on the current status of Myanmar. Laos and Cambodia support the junta in some ways; both are authoritarian in nature. Myanmar is under a junta regime that overthrew democracy in 2021. Other ASEAN members—Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore—maintained some level of interaction with the Myanmar resistance. Elimination of violence, at this point in time, seems to be the major goal of most members of ASEAN.
Conclusion
Despite the monumental aspirations of ASEAN as a regional block, important issues remain unresolved. The concerns in the South China Sea dispute and the Myanmar junta regime, for instance, are reflections of the internal differences of the ASEAN member states.
What is the future trajectory of ASEAN? Certainly, there are many salient economic pointers, socio-cultural contributions, and representations mirroring Asia, but when it comes to politics, there are some gaps, especially those that really impact the world order.
Resiliency and connectivity can be both positive and negative. Positive because ASEAN multilateral diplomacy is poised for regional cooperation. Some of the most important core aspects are unresolved; that’s the negative side of it. Soft and cultural tolerance does not translate to an arsenal of key issues of global importance and relevance.
ASEAN should re-engineer its multilateral commitment; unlike some groups or even treaties, an issue of one is a problem for all. Regional diplomacy should not waver independent bilateral diplomacy over a member with another country. There must be strong cooperation, collaboration, and commitment in pushing for the regional aspirations reflective of its pillars and charter.
