ASEAN - enhancing sovereignty

• AIMS of ASEAN

  • To build positive relationships in the region to promote wellbeing and security.
  • To build respect for the cultural, religious and social values of ASEAN members.
• ASEAN is working to facilitate a South China Sea code of conduct that is legally binding to have China comply with regulations and punished for breaching such.
• China exercised its diplomatic and economic power over Cambodia to avoid any criticism of China by ASEAN.
• • In 2016, Cambodia was the chair of ASEAN, and it did not allow any discussion of a proposed statement by ASEAN that would have been critical of China's incursions into the waters of the Philippines, which was the basis of the court decision.
  • This has, subsequently, granted China a de facto vote at ASEAN, despite being a non-member state, whereby Cambodia has been able to block statements which set precedent for China’s ‘unlawful’ acts in the South China Sea.
  • In this way, they have also been able to solidify their legitimacy of security control in the waterways. 
• • Given that decisions of ASEAN must be unanimous, China only needs the votes of one or two states, Cambodia and Laos, to be able to influence ASEAN in its work.
  • This weakens ASEAN’s effectiveness as a regional grouping where it cannot defend the interests of its member states in times of crisis, such as in the South China Sea.