Credit: Khmer Times
ASEAN unity stands as a pillar of stability in today’s rapidly shifting global landscape. At the 39th ASEAN Roundtable, held on October 28, 2024, in Singapore, H.E. Sok Siphana, Senior Minister in charge of Special Missions for Cambodia, emphasized the importance of ASEAN’s united stance amidst emerging global multipolarity. Hosted by the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, the event drew diplomats, policymakers, and scholars to discuss the theme “Surviving Multi-Polarity.”
H.E. Sok Siphana underscored ASEAN’s vital role as a neutral, balancing force between major world powers, an approach essential for sustaining peace and stability in the region. He highlighted the bloc’s unique ability to engage global actors without compromising its values of neutrality and centrality, noting, “Today’s world is a multiplex of interdependent actors.” ASEAN’s strategic location, he explained, necessitates a refined approach to maintaining stability without falling into great-power rivalries.
Reflecting on history, H.E. Sok Siphana referenced the concert of Europe as an early example of multi-polar power-sharing. However, he observed that today’s world differs significantly, with rapid technological advancements and globalized economies shaping new dynamics. The emergence of power blocs like BRICS and the Global South’s initiatives toward alternative financial systems, he argued, are reshaping the global order and challenging traditional Western dominance.
In navigating these complexities, H.E. Sok Siphana warned ASEAN to avoid becoming a stage for great-power conflicts, a stark reminder from Cold War history. He urged the bloc to resist pressures to take sides, advocating instead for the “ASEAN Way” of consensus-building and open dialogue, as former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo emphasized. This approach, he argued, is essential for fostering resilience and preserving the bloc’s autonomy.
On ASEAN’s economic influence, H.E. Sok Siphana highlighted its strengths, including its network of free trade agreements and its progress in digital and sustainable development. However, he noted the need for greater economic integration, as intra-ASEAN trade currently accounts for only 22% of the bloc’s total trade. Strengthening internal trade, reducing competition among member states, and harmonizing regulations are, he asserted, key to reinforcing ASEAN’s economic resilience.
Addressing ASEAN’s credibility, H.E. Sok Siphana acknowledged challenges, particularly the ongoing Myanmar crisis, which has tested the bloc’s effectiveness in managing regional issues. “ASEAN must put its own house in order if it seeks to maintain credibility,” he emphasized, calling for concerted efforts from member states, including Cambodia, to address complex regional challenges.
He further emphasized ASEAN’s “convening power,” its unique capacity to unite competing powers, and its “normative power,” rooted in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) and the ASEAN Charter. Strengthening these frameworks, he argued, is crucial for ASEAN to effectively navigate multi-polarity.
H.E. Sok Siphana’s address reaffirmed ASEAN’s potential as a stabilizing force in a multi-polar world. Through unity and commitment to neutrality, ASEAN can chart a path forward that safeguards regional stability while adapting to a changing global order, solidifying its role as a crucial actor in shaping Southeast Asia’s future.
