Association of Southeast Asia (ASA), composed of Malaya, the Philippines, and Thailand, was established in Bangkok on July 31, 1961. Originally, the Philippines and Malaya had sought an organization similar to the European Economic Community (EEC), but they assented to Thailand, who insisted on an association with a looser structure and obligations; they required Thai participation in the ASA and they hoped to entice other Southeast Asian states to join the association by assuming a less formal character. However, outsiders saw the ASA (Association of Southeast Asia) as politically aligned to the west. Indonesia, as a supporter of nonalignment, did not wish to join an organization that was either too strong in its political stance or which Indonesia had no role in creating. A new organization was required.
There were several other organizations. One of them was Maphilindo - a combined name of Malaya, the Philippines, and Indonesia - which was formally established on July 1963 in Manila. Originally an attempt to draw together the Malay people who had been blocked communication during colonial era, Maphilindo could not work well due to different interests of the participating nations. The Phillipines and Indonesia were to put off or even check the formation of a Federation of Malaysia. They each had territorial disagreement with Malaya. Consequently, Maphilindo had to walk down the hill mainly because of military disputes.