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The Star
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Asean's Zopfan revived thanks to China and Russia's support, says expert
KUALA LUMPUR: Asean's long-standing aspiration for a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (Zopfan) has gained renewed traction following China and Russia's readiness to sign the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ). International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Department of Political Science and Madani Studies lecturer Prof Dr Zainal Abidin Sanusi stated that this development reflects Asean's commitment to advancing the Zopfan vision by balancing security, sustainability, and inclusive growth for future generations. He noted that China and Russia's readiness to join demonstrates that Zopfan is not just historical rhetoric but an evolving framework relevant in today's strategic landscape. "This move directly reinforces Zopfan, reducing the risk of nuclear escalation in a region increasingly exposed to great-power rivalry, especially in the South China Sea," he told Bernama ahead of the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) on Tuesday (July 8). Zopfan, signed on Nov 27, 1971, by Asean member states in Kuala Lumpur, aimed to keep Southeast Asia free from external powers' interference, reinforcing Asean's commitment to regional neutrality and autonomy during the Cold War. Prof Zainal Abidin suggested that this development could boost the international credibility of the SEANWFZ Protocol and intensify diplomatic pressure on other Nuclear Weapon States (NWS), notably the United States, United Kingdom, and France, to reconsider their reservations and re-engage with the treaty. "Malaysia's neutral and principled foreign policy gives it the credibility to act as a trusted bridge-builder in such complex negotiations," he added, highlighting a broader shift in Asean's diplomatic posture. "This marks a key moment in what some are calling 'sustainability diplomacy', a redefined approach to peace and security that centres on long-term cooperation in environmental protection, green growth, and inclusive development, beyond just military or geopolitical strategies," he said. Despite Southeast Asia's nuclear-weapon-free status, Asean remains vulnerable to nuclear-capable deployments by external powers. "Asean leaders believe that securing universal NWS adherence is now more urgent than ever to protect Zopfan's spirit and safeguard Southeast Asia's stability and prosperity," he said. Prof Zainal Abidin proposed that Asean establish a regional compliance and monitoring mechanism in partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), modelled on the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone's commission, to strengthen transparency and confidence-building. He emphasized that environmental protection is a key pillar of SEANWFZ, as the treaty prohibits radioactive waste dumping and strictly limits nuclear energy activities, reinforcing intergenerational equity and the region's ecosystems' health. Malaysia's Asean 2025 Chairmanship theme of "Inclusivity and Sustainability" aligns with global concerns such as climate change, equitable development, and peace, linking SEANWFZ to broader issues like environmental protection and social justice. Malaysia has worked diligently through Asean committees and diplomatic channels to ensure smooth logistics and focused discussions for this year's meeting, particularly on sensitive issues such as monitoring and enforcing the treaty. He added that Malaysia could use its leadership in green technology, clean energy, and equitable economic growth to demonstrate how sustainability-anchored diplomacy can shape regional peacebuilding more holistically. "This is different from past Asean meetings that kept security and development in separate boxes. Now, Malaysia is helping Asean think across sectors, combining peace and sustainability in new ways," he said. Prof Zainal Abidin expressed that Malaysia's leadership could transform the AMM into a milestone event, not only for peace and denuclearisation but for the rise of sustainability diplomacy as a defining approach for Asean's efforts in balancing geopolitics, the environment, and development. The 58th AMM and related meetings, scheduled from July 8 to 11, are expected to gather about 1,500 delegates, including foreign ministers from Asean, Timor-Leste, Asean dialogue partners, Asean Regional Forum (ARF) participants, sectoral dialogue partners, and Asean Secretariat senior officials. Malaysia is hosting the AMM as part of its fifth Asean Chairmanship, having previously held the role in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015. - Bernama
Daily Express
11-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
How Asean has kept the peace for over 50 years
Published on: Wednesday, June 11, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 11, 2025 By: Danish Raja Reza, FMT Text Size: Formed in 1967 amid Cold War tensions and regional unrest, Asean was a bold bet on diplomacy. (Bernama pic) Kuala Lumpur: Southeast Asia is considered one of the world's most peaceful regions today, but that stability didn't happen by chance. Without Asean's quiet diplomacy, the region's economic growth, cross-border mobility and cohesion might never have materialised. Advertisement But now, as geopolitical tensions mount, the bloc's role in ensuring continued peace among its 10 members is more critical than ever. Born from conflict Asean was formed in 1967 during the height of the Cold War, when Southeast Asia was a hotbed for ideological confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union. The region was scarred by conflict: Vietnam was at war, Cambodia faced the Khmer Rouge, and Malaysia had just emerged from the Malayan Emergency. Even among its five founding members, relations were not always smooth. Indonesia and Malaysia clashed during the confrontation in the early 1960s, while Singapore separated from Malaysia in 1965. It was against this backdrop that Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand signed the Bangkok Declaration to commit to dialogue and cooperation, later reinforced by the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (Zopfan) manifesto in 1971 and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in 1976. '(Asean's) importance isn't always obvious, because our governments cooperate well and conduct savvy diplomacy to manage crises and maintain peace and order,' former Asean secretary-general and Singapore ambassador-at-large Ong Keng Yong told FMT. 'Asean cooperation and diplomacy work behind the scenes to advance economic development, political and security stability, and socio-cultural progress,' he pointed out. From poverty to progress Once made up of largely low-income countries, Asean has since become the world's fifth-largest economy with a combined GDP of nearly US$4 trillion, as of 2024. This growth was spurred by regional integration efforts, such as the Asean Free Trade Area (Afta), as well as mobility and connectivity initiatives. Malaysia's 2015 chairmanship marked a milestone with the launch of the Asean Community Vision 2025, a long-term plan to deepen integration across political, economic and social spheres. The Asean Political-Security Community (APSC), launched in 2009, supports cooperation on counter-terrorism efforts, maritime security and cyber threats while upholding Asean's principles of non-alignment and consensus. While Asean is sometimes dismissed as a 'talk shop', Ong said this process is what enables Asean to manage tensions both within and beyond the bloc. 'Asean summits and ministerial meetings, supported by numerous official negotiations, work to sort out differences and explore possibilities for agreement across a wide spectrum of views,' he added. Asean in everyday life Asean's impact also reaches citizens. The 2006 Asean Framework Agreement on Visa Exemption, fully ratified by Singapore in 2018, facilitates visa-free travel between member states. This has spurred tourism, mobility, and cultural exchanges. At the 46th Asean Summit in May, youth delegates highlighted the bloc's growing relevance. 'Because we're so regionally integrated, and we've done so many exchange programmes, awareness of Asean and our values has become a lot more prominent among today's youth,' said Austin Patrick, a delegate from Myanmar. 'We can create shared funds to invest in our startup ecosystem, and by doing so, promote accessibility, not just in the payment space, but also in education and healthcare,' he said. Meanwhile, Michelle Ann Villanueva from the Philippines said Asean has also helped foster social cohesion. 'We love and embrace our diversity,' she said. 'As long as we do it with dignity, honour and values, I think we're doing something great for our community.' Looking ahead: Vision 2045 As major powers compete for influence in Asia, Asean's founding principles — neutrality, dialogue, and cooperation — remain more relevant than ever. These ideals form the backbone of the Asean Community Vision 2045, a strategic plan to guide the region through its next phase of development amid growing uncertainties. Dusit Manapan, an advisor to Thailand's foreign affairs ministry, encourages member states to remain hopeful and united as they navigate this uncertain future. 'We don't have an alternative. We have to stick together and look toward a brighter future,' he said, adding that Asean member states must build on their shared strengths. For the next generation, Asean offers a shared platform to confront challenges such as climate change, inequality and sustainable development — issues that no nation can solve alone. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Times of Oman
28-02-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Malaysia's Asean chairmanship offers new vistas of cooperation with India
The Indo-Pacific is fast emerging as a focal point of global geopolitics and economic activity, presenting Malaysia with a strategic opportunity as it assumes the Asean chairmanship in 2025. Situated at the intersection of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Malaysia is uniquely positioned to influence order building in the region. Whether it is the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, or Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the Asean Chapter, Malaysia has always contributed substantially in building a more inclusive, secure, and prosperous regional order. Malaysia's strategic priorities stem from its geographical significance for regional trade and security, particularly its stakes over the vital Strait of Malacca. Given the intensifying US-China rivalry and its polarising effects, Malaysia remains committed to Asean centrality, ensuring that the bloc retains its influence in shaping the Indo-Pacific's trajectory. However, this requires a careful diplomatic balance, maintaining robust relations with the two superpowers as well as its other significant dialogue partners that belong to the league of rising and middle powers, while safeguarding Asean's unity and autonomy.
