Упрощенная HTML-версия
Author : N. Vlasov
Attaché at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Lao People's Democratic Republic, postgraduate
student at the Department of Asian and African Studies, School of International Relations, Moscow
State Institute (University) of International Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Fed-
eration
THE ASSOCIATION of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), set up
by Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines in 1967
under the Bangkok Declaration, has become an important actor in re-
gional politics.
ASEAN has not only survived years of trials but has proven to be a
highly effective body. "ASEAN has been successful because its members
have a very strong commitment to cooperation," said former Malaysian
foreign minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. It also has "a very strong
commitment to pragmatism" and has avoided letting ideology playing.
ASEAN has successfully traversed a difficult path that included the tense years of the Cold War,
geopolitical ordeals, and financial and macroeconomic crises.
A more powerful ASEAN, which can successfully defend the interests of its member countries,
would also meet the interests of Russia, which does not want regional affairs to be dominated by a
tiny group of actors.
With U.S.-Chinese rivalry gathering momentum, Beijing will hardly make any concessions on any
of the issues important for ASEAN, and so is likely to harden its line in the territorial disputes. The
United States, for its part, blinded by its presumed uniqueness and omnipotence and seeking to re-
main the global leader, will most likely continue to consolidate exclusive and American-focused mil-
itary and political alliances in Asia-Pacific.
Why do ASEAN countries need strategic stability in Southeast Asia? It is because this is the only
guarantee of the security and sovereignty of each member country, i.e., of safeguarding its vital in-
terests.
Russia can and should play a stabilizing role in Southeast Asia. It was a Russian initiative that was
behind dialogues between East Asia Summit participants on building an architecture of security,
cooperation, and sustained development.
ASEAN cannot be the true leader of Southeast Asia, least of all a global leader, if it is not united.
Only a united ASEAN can be the central mechanism of integration in Asia-Pacific.
To sum up, tougher geopolitical rivalries in Asia-Pacific and consequently escalating frictions and
growing instability in the region are today's main challenges of ASEAN. They make the association's
future uncertain.
Despite differences in their views, the leaders of all ASEAN countries apparently want their nations
to put up a united front against the pressure of China and the United States. The logic that led
ASEAN's founding fathers to the creation of the association half a century ago is not a whit obso-
lete.
http://interaffairs.ru
ASEAN in the Current Era of Regional Geopolitical Instability