Asean needs to jointly address security issues

Regional stability is essential to maintain its status as an emerging economic power

The leaders of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) are meeting at a time of great promise — and danger — for the region.

In Myanmar, the leader of the opposition to the military government, Aung San Suu Kyi, has won a seat in parliament in an election effectively endorsed by Asean foreign ministers. The association has now called for the lifting of sanctions against the Myanmar government — imposed because of human rights abuses by the military — which will boost the economic growth of a country rich in natural and human resources. This will further strengthen the claim by Asean to be one of the fastest developing economic regions in the world.

However, political and military threats abound in the region. While the emergence of China as a global economic power has helped boost the development of the region, its claims to disputed natural resources in the South China Sea — backed by military posturing — has increased political tensions. The involvement of the US in the region has also increased tensions and created greater scope for perhaps unintended, military and political confrontations.

The unpredictability of the North Korean regime, which is developing its nuclear weapon capacity and the missiles needed to deliver them, is also a constant threat to security in the region. North Korea is preparing a missile test which will fly over the Philippines. The Asean member has formally protested to North Korea in international forums. However, this is unlikely to get North Korea — which is using the threat of rash military action to blackmail the international community for the resources the regime needs to survive — to change its course of action.

The leaders of Asean must ensure that their summit results in effective joint action to tackle the very real threats to security in the region, or they will not get the investment they need to maintain their rapidly emerging economic power.

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