Nation : Asia has changed, so must

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The Nation
July 24, 1998
Editorial & Opinion 
EDITORIAL: Asia has changed, so must Asean

THE saddest thing about Asean is that the grouping continues to entertain
the illusion that it could plod along in much the same way it has been for
the past 30 years. Granted, Asean has indeed been very successful -- the
grouping is no doubt the most dynamic regional organisation outside of
Europe. 

But the future may not be so rosy if Asean is to resist change. Indeed, the
world has changed and so has the region. It would be wrong for Asean
leaders to think that the best way to cope with this mini-revolution is to
pretend that it's business as usual. 

When the Asean foreign ministers begin their two-day meeting on Thursday in
Manila, they have to tackle new issues that could make or break the
organisation. But while the various economic and political crises
afflicting the region are challenging, they could also provide new fertile
grounds for the grouping to grow and adjust itself so that it is relevant
to the new regional environment. 

For years, Asean has refused to discuss their problems because its leaders
prefer to talk about success. It is an Asean dogma that member countries
should never wash their dirty linen in the public. 

And so it must be quite a shock for the Asean member countries when Foreign
Minister Surin Pitsuwan suggested that they should discuss issues frankly
with one another. Asean, Surin argued, needs to build a new political clout
to replace its waning economic clout which is being battered by the
economic tsunami. 

To be transparent and open to each other within Asean would strengthen the
grouping instead of weakening it. Certainly, some authoritarian member
states have no such desire because they want to use Asean to legitimise
their regimes. 

Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia are three leading Asean countries that have
openly opposed Surin's proposal, arguing that there is no need to change
the principle of non-interference. In fact, this ''flexible engagement''
proposal does not call for the abolition of the cardinal
''non-intervention'' principle but rather it serves as a wake-up call for
Asean to refresh their approach on issues that render regional
repercussions. This is a proposal that Asean should rally behind. 

Although Asean foreign ministers may not form a consensus at the Manila
meeting, the good thing is that this idea has been discussed and views
solicited. The ''flexible engagement'' genie is out of the bottle and no
matter how hard others will try, it is not going to disappear from the
picture. 

Thailand should remain firm and undaunted by the opponents of ''flexible
engagement''. After the meeting, the Thai government and Foreign Ministry
must follow-up and continue to clarify its proposal to the member states
and international community. 

Most importantly, at the sixth Asean summit in Hanoi, Prime Minister Chuan
Leekpai must use his charisma and moral authority to convince the other
Asean leaders that being open to each other and be transparent would
beneficial to the grouping. 

While Asean is struggling with itself, other regional organisations are
moving leaps and bounds to integrate themselves with the world economy.
European Union and Latin American free-trade countries, known as, Mercusor,
are working on a free-trade agreement, if succeeds it would be first among
two huge trade blocs. 

Asean is at a cross roads. It needs a bold vision to move ahead and restore
its credibility in the international community. The Manila meeting will
give us the answer to whether Asean will remain a force to be reckoned well
into the 21st century or sink into the oblivion. 



The Nation