Asean Is Successful or Not?
Pedra Branca
YES
Yes South East Asia needs ASEAN because it helps to maintain the regional peace and stability by providing a platform for constructive discussion where there is a conflict of interest. For example, in the case of Singapore and Malaysia, there was the question of sovereign rights over Pedra Branca in 1979. Singapore claimed that Pedra Branca was terra nullius and so was never under the Johor Sultanate. Although the issue was not resolved at ASEAN level as it was resolved at the International Court of Justice, the underlying principle that contributed to the two countries to settle the matter diplomatically instead of resorting to an armed conflict is that they are members of ASEAN who are committed to the principle of maintaining regional peace and stability. Thus, the region needs ASEAN because it helps to settle conflicts between the states.
NO
Singapore claimed that …. The issue, however, was not resolved at ASEAN level, instead both countries brought the dispute to the ICJ which resolved it in 2008. This clearly shows that the region does not need ASEAN because the members failed to use ASEAN as platform to discuss their conflict but instead depended on an external body to resolve it.
YES – Non-Interference Policy
The region needs ASEAN because of its non-interference policy. The non-interference policy ensures that neighbouring members do not intervene in the domestic issues of the country as it would compromise the sovereignty of the country. In this region, such a policy is essential because the make-up of the ethnic, cultural and religious groups is diverse and is open to conflict. For example, the insurgents in Thailand are Muslims who are against the Buddhist majority government and who want an independent state. The insurgency which escalated in 2004 are on-going and has resulted in the death of many soldiers, Buddhist monks, teachers, students, insurgents and other civilians as well. Both groups, the government and the
YES
Yes South East Asia needs ASEAN because it helps to maintain the regional peace and stability by providing a platform for constructive discussion where there is a conflict of interest. For example, in the case of Singapore and Malaysia, there was the question of sovereign rights over Pedra Branca in 1979. Singapore claimed that Pedra Branca was terra nullius and so was never under the Johor Sultanate. Although the issue was not resolved at ASEAN level as it was resolved at the International Court of Justice, the underlying principle that contributed to the two countries to settle the matter diplomatically instead of resorting to an armed conflict is that they are members of ASEAN who are committed to the principle of maintaining regional peace and stability. Thus, the region needs ASEAN because it helps to settle conflicts between the states.
NO
Singapore claimed that …. The issue, however, was not resolved at ASEAN level, instead both countries brought the dispute to the ICJ which resolved it in 2008. This clearly shows that the region does not need ASEAN because the members failed to use ASEAN as platform to discuss their conflict but instead depended on an external body to resolve it.
YES – Non-Interference Policy
The region needs ASEAN because of its non-interference policy. The non-interference policy ensures that neighbouring members do not intervene in the domestic issues of the country as it would compromise the sovereignty of the country. In this region, such a policy is essential because the make-up of the ethnic, cultural and religious groups is diverse and is open to conflict. For example, the insurgents in Thailand are Muslims who are against the Buddhist majority government and who want an independent state. The insurgency which escalated in 2004 are on-going and has resulted in the death of many soldiers, Buddhist monks, teachers, students, insurgents and other civilians as well. Both groups, the government and the