¶35 Indonesia and Thailand exert significant influence within ASEAN because of their
population size and their comparative economic success, while their commitment to
democracy exerts significant sway with other member-states. The Philippines is an
ambivalent ally of Indonesia and Thailand, although the three countries together account
for almost 70% of ASEAN’s population, making them a powerful alliance when they
work together.23 One key cleavage in ASEAN divides the “ASEAN Six” (Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei) from the “CMLV countries”
(Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam) or the more economically-prosperous states
from their poorer, and historically conflict-ravaged, neighbors. As ASEAN Secretary-
General Surin Pitsuwan explains: