Short Essay on ASEAN
by Rehaan Bansal
ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Countries) was established on 8th August 1967 in Bangkok by the five original member countries: Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, and Philippines.
In 1984 Brunei Darussalam joined ASEAN followed by Vietnam in 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar in 1997 and Cambodia in 1999. It is a geo-political and economic organization of ten countries located in Southeast Asia.
The main objective of ASEAN is the acceleration of economic growth, social progress and cultural development of its members along with the promotion of regional peace.
Originally, ASEAN was meant to be an association of countries engaged in nation building. The end of World War II saw the emerging of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore as sovereign independent nations.
Nation building was often vulnerable to foreign intervention. It was important for the governing people to have free hands to conduct their policies without interference from neighbouring countries.
Small countries like Singapore and Brunei are always in fear of the influences exerted by bigger neighbouring countries like Indonesia and Malaysia. ASEAN was established to ensure sovereignty stayed resolutely located at the national level.
The primary principle of ASEAN was noninterference. ASEAN is open to the participation of all States in the Southeast Asian region which are willing to subscribe to its aims, principles and purposes.
ASEAN aims to represent the collective will of the countries of Southeast Asia to bind themselves together in friendship. It hopes through the joint efforts of its members to secure for its peoples the blessings of peace, freedom and prosperity.
The ASEAN holds meetings, known as the ASEAN Summit, where heads of government of each member country meet to confer and resolve regional issues. In addition meetings are conducted with other countries outside the block with the intention of promoting external relations.