How Asean has kept the peace for over 50 years

Free Malaysia Today

a day ago

Formed in 1967 amid Cold War tensions and regional unrest, Asean was a bold bet on diplomacy. (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR : Southeast Asia is considered one of the world's most peaceful regions today, but that stability didn't happen by chance.
Without Asean's quiet diplomacy, the region's economic growth, cross-border mobility and cohesion might never have materialised.
But now, as geopolitical tensions mount, the bloc's role in ensuring continued peace among its 10 members is more critical than ever.
Born from conflict
Asean was formed in 1967 during the height of the Cold War, when Southeast Asia was a hotbed for ideological confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union.
The region was scarred by conflict: Vietnam was at war, Cambodia faced the Khmer Rouge, and Malaysia had just emerged from the Malayan Emergency.
Even among its five founding members, relations were not always smooth. Indonesia and Malaysia clashed during the confrontation in the early 1960s, while Singapore separated from Malaysia in 1965.
It was against this backdrop that Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand signed the Bangkok Declaration to commit to dialogue and cooperation, later reinforced by the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (Zopfan) manifesto in 1971 and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in 1976.
'(Asean's) importance isn't always obvious, because our governments cooperate well and conduct savvy diplomacy to manage crises and maintain peace and order,' former Asean secretary-general and Singapore ambassador-at-large Ong Keng Yong told FMT.
'Asean cooperation and diplomacy work behind the scenes to advance economic development, political and security stability, and socio-cultural progress,' he pointed out.
From poverty to progress
Once made up of largely low-income countries, Asean has since become the world's fifth-largest economy with a combined GDP of nearly US$4 trillion, as of 2024.
This growth was spurred by regional integration efforts, such as the Asean Free Trade Area (Afta), as well as mobility and connectivity initiatives.
Malaysia's 2015 chairmanship marked a milestone with the launch of the Asean Community Vision 2025, a long-term plan to deepen integration across political, economic and social spheres.
The Asean Political-Security Community (APSC), launched in 2009, supports cooperation on counter-terrorism efforts, maritime security and cyber threats while upholding Asean's principles of non-alignment and consensus.
While Asean is sometimes dismissed as a 'talk shop', Ong said this process is what enables Asean to manage tensions both within and beyond the bloc.
'Asean summits and ministerial meetings, supported by numerous official negotiations, work to sort out differences and explore possibilities for agreement across a wide spectrum of views,' he added.
Asean in everyday life
Asean's impact also reaches citizens. The 2006 Asean Framework Agreement on Visa Exemption, fully ratified by Singapore in 2018, facilitates visa-free travel between member states.
This has spurred tourism, mobility, and cultural exchanges. At the 46th Asean Summit in May, youth delegates highlighted the bloc's growing relevance.
'Because we're so regionally integrated, and we've done so many exchange programmes, awareness of Asean and our values has become a lot more prominent among today's youth,' said Austin Patrick, a delegate from Myanmar.
'We can create shared funds to invest in our startup ecosystem, and by doing so, promote accessibility, not just in the payment space, but also in education and healthcare,' he said.
Meanwhile, Michelle Ann Villanueva from the Philippines said Asean has also helped foster social cohesion.
'We love and embrace our diversity,' she said. 'As long as we do it with dignity, honour and values, I think we're doing something great for our community.'
Looking ahead: Vision 2045
As major powers compete for influence in Asia, Asean's founding principles — neutrality, dialogue, and cooperation — remain more relevant than ever.
These ideals form the backbone of the Asean Community Vision 2045, a strategic plan to guide the region through its next phase of development amid growing uncertainties.
Dusit Manapan, an advisor to Thailand's foreign affairs ministry, encourages member states to remain hopeful and united as they navigate this uncertain future.
'We don't have an alternative. We have to stick together and look toward a brighter future,' he said, adding that Asean member states must build on their shared strengths.
For the next generation, Asean offers a shared platform to confront challenges such as climate change, inequality and sustainable development — issues that no nation can solve alone.