Trust, commitment needed to drive Asean forward
The Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) is still a rather loose entity after 50 years since its formation.
The European Economic Community took just 10 years after its formation to reach an agreement in 1967 to become an economic union, which came into force in 1993.
In contrast, it took Asean four decades to ink an agreement in 2015 to become an economic community.
Asean’s progress was often perceived as slow and slack. Its leaders should conduct more frank and critical reviews of the organisation’s weaknesses, especially those that hinder regional cooperation, such as development gaps among member nations, protectionism, nationalism, lack of political will, lack of effort and insufficient resources.
Political leaders should put in greater effort in deriving collective solutions to deal with these obstacles. They have to take the bull by the horns. There is no other way, and there are no other better people to do it.
Asean leaders also abstained from talking about member nations’ internal affairs, bound by the “non-interference” dogma. We cannot let this dogma stay for another 50 years. One or two member nations’ below-par standing in social or political development may affect Asean’s image. Let us make advancing social development as part of the new vision.
The just-ended Summit Meeting issued a declaration to increase accountability and transparency in civil service to help Asean achieve its goals. It is aimed to support the thematic priority of a people-oriented, people-centred Asean under the Philippine chairmanship. But we need to know more about the social and political development programmes.
We should also ask this fundamental question: Do member nations fully understand — and are they convinced — of the benefits of regional cooperation and integration?
Unless member nations are convinced, they would not give their wholehearted commitment to the collective endeavour.
Working harder to persuade the less convinced and less committed member nations should be included in the new Asean blueprint. It is a basic but essential task, but was neglected in the past.
In an age of many uncertainties, and with increasing influences from nations outside the region, Asean must command a high level of trust and commitment among its member nations to fulfil its vision and goals.
To lead the region, the organisation itself needs constant self-reflection and self-renewal.
