Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN ) wrapped up their regional summit in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, on Friday ( Oct 11 ).
Regional conflicts and efforts to end the Myanmar problems were the 10-member bloc’s main obstacles to progressing on pressing issues, including those involving the South China Sea and Myanmar.
Despite progressing, agreements to improve the group’s free trade agreement with its largest trading partner, China, were a positive aspect of economic cooperation.
Here are some of the pressing problems during the week-long mountain, and economists ‘ insights from the debate.
SOUTH CHINA SEA Conflicts
Ferdinand Marcos, president of the Philippines, demanded urgent action to establish a code of conduct in the South China Sea. Progress has been labor-intensively delayed.
He also claimed that in the disputed lakes, China was harassed and intimidated.
In addition to the Philippines, ASEAN people Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Brunei have competing claims to a number of small, shallow South China Sea islands and reefs, which Beijing about entirely disputed.
Due to the fact that member states have distinct goals, viewpoints, and approaches to the problem, experts say the rough problem is unlikely to be resolved soon.
” Some are more formally extreme… while some prioritise another problems… like trade”, said Mr Vikram Nehru, a non-resident senior colleague at the Foreign Policy Institute at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.
He added that the escalations, which “allows ASEAN as a whole to get a more measured technique,” have not been significant enough to pose an existential threat to personal member states or to greatly impede trade in the area.
Foreign Premier Li Qiang criticized “external forces” for stifling local politics and bringing political conflict into Asia in response to the Philippines.
Although Mr. Li did not name the international organizations, observers claimed that East Asian countries are acting at the US’s ‘ urging and that such frame is common.
Mr Sharon Seah, a senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute’s ASEAN Studies Centre, said:” This is an antiquated Cold War perspective of the area being played around by the power. Southeast Asia is no longer a regional power’s frontline conflict.
” ASEAN has a track record of deciding how and when it wants to engage with additional colleagues… using a mixture of political, political and economic participation.”
ECONOMIC Assistance
By agreeing to improve their free trade agreement, ASEAN and China bolstered economic relations.
The ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA ) negotiations are expected to wrap up in 2015, according to officials.
Since the two factors signed the agreement in 2010, the bloc’s commerce with China has more than tripled from US$ 235.5 billion to US$ 696.7 billion last year.
According to experts, several members of the group have been reluctant to back down on Beijing’s steps in the South China Sea because of the large volume of economic benefits it offers.
In light of growing efforts by larger powers to try to have greater influence in the region, impartial political analyst Adib Zalkapli claimed that Southeast Asia is well positioned to benefit financially from geopolitical conflict.
” China provides a substantial amount of development fund, especially in system, to Southeast Asia. But increasingly, Japan, the US, the EU, etc are ( also ) increasing their levels of development finance to ( countries in the region ), “he said.
He did point out that this also places South Asian countries at the probable epicenter of conflict.
” Southeast Asia is being really careful to fence its approach between rival parties. It has to tread very carefully… (especially ) in the South China Sea… as a false move could potentially lead to a hot conflict, “he told CNA938.
However, amid efforts to” de-risk” offer stores from China, Southeast Asia has emerged as an alternative source of imports.
” Soutenser Asia is now better positioned, and Chinese investments are moving to ( the region ), leading to very significant increases in exports from Southeast Asia to advanced economies,” Mr. Zalkapli said.
Southeast Asia, China, and the developed economies benefit from this business inclusion. This is, in a sense, a win-win-win for all three parties.”
Burma Issue
On Myanmar, ASEAN officials condemned the military administration’s efforts to achieve peace as” greatly inadequate”, urging all sides to end murder and attacks on civilians.  ,
Additionally, they demanded that it adopt the so-called Five-Point Consensus, a peace plan that was mostly ignored by the junta but agreed upon by all the bloc’s leaders.
Mr. Zalkapli claimed that the grouping’s non-interference and consensus-based decision-making prevent the bloc from exerting forceful influence on the junta’s efforts to end bloodshed and establish real opened elections.
Leaders from Southeast Asia have long advocated for more extensive efforts to end the crisis, but a peaceful resolution is still obscure, putting the bloc’s credibility and ability to resolve domestic issues directly on the line.
Malaysia will be the second chair to deal with Myanmar since the revolution in 2021 brought on the humanitarian crisis.
For a start, Malaysia will need to find a practical pathway to send all events in Myanmar’s ongoing civil war to the table, said Ms Seah.
” The only way for ASEAN to get appropriate is… by solving this inner problem. Myanmar’s troubles are affecting unity, and could spill over to ( affect ) regional security,” she added.
MALAYSIA AS NEXT ASEAN CHAIR
Sonexay Siphandone, the country’s prime minister, gave the metaphoric gift to Anwar Ibrahim as the mountain came to an end.
Analysts expressed great expectations for Malaysia given that it was the bloc’s founding partner and that Mr. Anwar had a wealth of global experience.
Mr. Zalkapli claimed that Malaysia is expected to be much more forceful than Laos, which has attempted to steer itself clear of many of the controversial issues affecting the union.
” Anwar is a very aggressive specific. He has made his international plan priorities quite clear. I ( expect ) a more active role on foreign policy concerns, “he said.
” The West may expect a somewhat rougher walk with Nasser… in the coming year.”
Ms. Seah noted that Mr. Anwar may have his work cut out for him, with major objectives ensuring the bloc’s unity and delicate balance between ASEAN’s financial partnership with China and safety issues in the South China Sea.
She added that Malaysia needs to improve the rate of economic integration by passing the digital market framework agreement, updating numerous free trade agreements, and articulating an ASEAN post-2025 vision.