By Nabilah Saleh
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 (NNN-Bernama) — The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) work along the ASEAN-centric approach to regional security and economy under the concept of ‘ASEAN centrality’, a keyword now in the grouping’s diplomacy.
ASEAN centrality hinges on unity and a united voice in taking a stand and finding solutions for issues faced by members and the region as a whole, and ASEAN remains the core of all partnerships, forums and institutions related to the grouping.
Come 2022, ASEAN’s centrality will be under the radar as the 10-member grouping dwells further into divisive issues — Myanmar’s internal problems, the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) trilateral Indo-Pacific security pact, and the contentious overlapping claims in the South China Sea.
Of late it seems that some ASEAN members wanted to do things their own way like seen in the stand taken over AUKUS and also over Myanmar. So wither ASEAN centrality?
Speaking to Bernama, a strategic affairs expert Rahul Mishra opined that ASEAN as a regional group has to keep moving forward and keep a united front.
“Of course, member states have differing perceptions on issues such as the South China Sea, AUKUS, etc. But there must be a consensus on keeping ASEAN unity and centrality intact.
“ASEAN must never forget that it has earned its “centrality” through its deft diplomacy. It has to make sustained efforts to keep its “centrality” intact. ASEAN centrality is respected by many. Even within the Indo-Pacific framework, several countries have placed ASEAN centrality at the core of their respective policies,” he said.
On Cambodia’s decision to approach Myanmar on its own, Rahul, who is also a Senior Lecturer at Universiti Malaya (UM)’s Asia-Europe Institute (AEI) said despite this, ASEAN shall stick to its centrality policy to move forward with all frameworks agreed during the last two summits.
“Speculations are rife that Cambodia has inched closer towards Myanmar’s junta … and it seems true as well.
“This is in contrast with ASEAN’s policy so far, that has so far excluded Myanmar’s junta from ASEAN meetings,” said Rahul adding that Cambodia’s role is vital at this juncture.
“Whether Cambodia is able to bring both ASEAN and Myanmar to the negotiating table remains to be seen but Cambodia’s role as the ASEAN Chair will have a long-term impact on ASEAN’s approach to inter-regional crisis and members’ behaviour as well,” he said.
It was reported that the long-ruling Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will be travelling to Myanmar early next month in order to engage with Myanmar’s junta, ahead of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat on Jan 19, 2022.
It has also been reported that Hun Sen would name Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn as the ASEAN chair’s new special envoy to Myanmar. Sokhonn will succeed the bloc’s current ASEAN special envoy, Brunei’s Second Foreign Minister Erywan Yusof.
Myanmar is not the only problem that ASEAN has to deal with, more foreign powers are making their presence felt in the Indo-Pacific region where ASEAN member states are located in between. This can be seen from China’s increasing assertiveness over the South China Sea and the rise of the trilateral security pact AUKUS, covering the Indo-Pacific.
Hence, the grouping has come up with its own ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) to maintain centrality, neutrality and leadership in the Indo-Pacific.
A Researcher at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta, Gilang Kembara told Bernama, however, in maintaining centrality it is also imperative for ASEAN to start thinking on ways to operationalise the AOIP.
“The geopolitical dynamics that occurred during 2021 were a culmination of both the failure and oversight of ASEAN to navigate the various issues that have or might have arised in the past couple of years.
“None of these major events happened overnight without significant reasons. It is imperative for ASEAN to ensure its centrality and unity for the foreseeable future. With the Indo-Pacific region getting ever so crowded, it is also imperative for ASEAN to start looking into AOIP,” he said.
Elaborating further, Gilang highlighted that with all decisions and frameworks made during the recent annual summits, ASEAN could move forward under the chairmanship of Cambodia next year.
“Cambodia, it seems, has promised the region that it would put its focus on Myanmar and the South China Sea Code of Conduct (CoC) negotiations during its chairmanship.
“Though the resources that the government could muster in managing these two issues may be limited, Cambodia seems to realise that they stand to benefit more through a more unified ASEAN and as such would not risk jeopardising the unity and cohesion of the 10-member organisation,” he said.
— NNN-BERNAMA