Latest news with #TreatyofAmityandCooperationinSoutheastAsia
The Sun
12-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
ASEAN strengthens global partnerships with AOIP and TAC in Kuala Lumpur
KUALA LUMPUR: The ASEAN Foreign Ministers have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the bloc's global partnerships by leveraging existing mechanisms such as the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). The decision was made during the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) held recently, reflecting ASEAN's dedication to maintaining consistency in its external relations amid shifting geopolitical dynamics. The ministers emphasised the need to shift focus from quantity to strategic value in partnerships, ensuring alignment with ASEAN's long-term priorities. 'ASEAN must continue upholding its centrality and role as the primary driving force in managing relations with external partners,' the ministers agreed. This includes reviewing the moratorium on new Dialogue Partnerships, initiated in 2021, to ensure coherence with ASEAN Community Vision 2045. A key outcome of the meeting was the directive for the ASEAN Secretariat to prepare a comprehensive Assessment Paper on ASEAN's Formal Partnerships. This document will serve as a strategic guide for future engagements, ensuring they remain grounded in ASEAN's principles as outlined in the ASEAN Charter and TAC. The review process will adopt an action-oriented approach, covering all three pillars of the ASEAN Community and the ASEAN Connectivity agenda. The findings will be presented at a future AMM for further deliberation. - Bernama
The Sun
12-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
ASEAN 58th AMM success highlights global trust and regional growth
KUALA LUMPUR: The successful conclusion of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) underscores the bloc's growing influence and the trust it commands among global powers. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan emphasised that ASEAN is increasingly viewed as a stable and economically vibrant region. Mohamad noted that many nations are eager to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), a key step toward ASEAN partnership. 'From five founding members, we now have 10, and Timor-Leste will become the 11th in October,' he said during a press conference. Despite a current moratorium on new dialogue partners, Mohamad indicated flexibility. 'Some countries bring substantial value, so we will evaluate their applications carefully,' he added. The AMM hosted 21 meetings with external partners at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Mohamad also held 15 bilateral discussions with counterparts from nations including China, the US, and Palestine, focusing on strengthening ties and addressing shared global concerns. Regarding Timor-Leste's accession, ASEAN foreign ministers acknowledged ongoing procedural preparations. Guidelines to facilitate its integration were adopted, with encouragement for swift adherence to legal frameworks. - Bernama
New Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Mohamad: Asean gains trust, recognised as a peaceful region after successful AMM
KUALA LUMPUR: The successful organisation of the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related meetings proves that the regional bloc is respected and continues to gain the trust of major global powers. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Asean is also increasingly recognised as a peaceful region with excellent economic growth. "Many countries are lining up and waiting to sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) because it is the first step for them to become Asean partners. "From the five original member countries, we are now 10, and in October, it will be 11 countries (with the entry of Timor-Leste). More countries are now applying to become Asean sectoral partners and dialogue partners," he told a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today. Mohamad added that although Asean currently has a moratorium on accepting new dialogue partners, the regional bloc would not be too rigid about it. "There are one or two that need to be considered, and if we accept a country as a dialogue partner, it will add significant value to Asean, so we look at that need," he said. Regarding the successful organisation of the AMM, Mohamad said 21 meetings involving Asean and its strategic partners, as well as the Fourth Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD IV), were held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. "Separately, I held 15 bilateral meetings with my counterparts from Algeria, Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, China, Japan, New Zealand, Palestine, the Philippines, Switzerland, Turkiye, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Uruguay. "During all these meetings, we discussed strengthening bilateral relations and international issues of mutual interest," he said. On Timor-Leste's inclusion as the 11th Asean member state, Mohamad said the regional bloc's foreign ministers acknowledged that related procedural work was underway. "The AMM also adopted the Guidelines for Facilitating Timor-Leste's Participation in Asean Legal Instruments under the purview of the AMM. "The AMM also encouraged Timor-Leste to take action to accede to the relevant legal instruments as soon as possible," he said. Additionally, Mohamad said Asean foreign ministers urged all parties in Myanmar, especially the State Administration Council (SAC), to cease hostilities and violence and adhere to the ceasefire to ensure humanitarian aid can be delivered without obstruction. He said this call was in line with the decision of the 46th Asean Summit held last May. He added that Asean continues to fully support the efforts of the Special Envoy of the Asean Chair on Myanmar, Tan Sri Othman Hashim, in facilitating a peaceful resolution to the crisis. "Malaysia also expressed concern regarding the unsatisfactory implementation of the Five-Point Consensus on the ground. "We urge all stakeholders to take concrete action, especially concerning three main points: the cessation of hostilities, inclusive dialogue involving all parties, and humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar," he said.
New Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
TAC: Cornerstone of Asean's diplomatic architecture and global outreach
The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), signed on Feb 24, 1976 in Bali, Indonesia, marks a pivotal milestone in Asean's institutional and diplomatic evolution. It is not merely a treaty, but a living embodiment of Asean's normative framework—anchored in peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and non-interference—that has enabled it to navigate shifting geopolitical currents for nearly five decades. HISTORICAL GENESIS OF THE TAC The TAC emerged against the backdrop of Cold War tensions, following the Fall of Saigon in 1975 and the retrenchment of the United States from Southeast Asia. In the face of growing uncertainty, the founding Asean members—Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Singapore—convened the first Asean Summit in Bali in 1976, where they adopted the TAC as a formal, legally binding expression of regional solidarity. More than just a peace pact, the TAC laid the foundation for what came to be known as the "Asean Way"—a diplomatic culture rooted in quiet diplomacy, non-confrontation, and consensus. Its principles reflect Asean's unique context: a region of remarkable political, cultural and economic diversity, home to monarchies, democracies, socialist republics and military regimes, all of which must coexist without igniting regional conflict. THE CORE PRINCIPLES OF THE TAC The TAC is founded upon the principles articulated in its Preamble and codified in Article 2. These are: (1) Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identity of all nations; (2) The right of every State to lead its national existence free from external interference or coercion; (3) Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another; (4) Settlement of disputes by peaceful means; (5) Renunciation of the threat or use of force; and (6) Effective cooperation among states. These principles remain central to Asean's external relations, regional cooperation and conflict resolution mechanisms. They are reinforced by institutional structures such as the High Council, established under Chapter IV of the TAC, designed to mediate disputes through good offices, inquiry or conciliation. ASEAN'S ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE AND THE 'ASEAN WAY' The TAC exemplifies Asean's intergovernmental character and aversion to legalism. Disputes are preferably resolved behind closed doors, with leaders resorting to quiet diplomacy, informal consultations and personal rapport. As such, while the TAC envisions dispute settlement mechanisms, these are rarely invoked formally. Asean relies instead on senior-level diplomacy, consensus and mutual accommodation. The TAC's structure allows Asean to function effectively without a supranational authority. This is especially crucial for a region with stark developmental disparities and divergent political systems. The TAC thus acts as a stabilising force, enabling cooperative integration without the necessity of uniformity or political convergence. EVOLUTION AND EXPANSION OF THE TAC Initially limited to Southeast Asian states, the TAC has since undergone three amendments—in 1987, 1998 and 2010—expanding eligibility for accession to states outside the region and to regional organisations composed of sovereign states. The Treaty was first opened to non-Asean states in 1989, beginning with Papua New Guinea. Since then, the TAC has grown into a globally embraced framework. Before this, 55 states and entities had acceded to the Treaty and today Uruguay and Algeria became the 56th and 57th High Contracting Parties, respectively. This expansion reflects a growing recognition of the TAC's values and Asean's rising profile as a convening power in global diplomacy. Sharm sharmini NST, [11/7/2025 1:20 PM] Countries wishing to participate in Asean's multilateral platforms—such as the Asean Regional Forum (ARF), East Asia Summit (EAS), and Asean+3—are often required to accede to the TAC as a prerequisite, reinforcing its central role in regional and inter-regional engagement. WHY COUNTRIES OUTSIDE ASEAN ARE JOINING THE TAC The global resonance of the TAC lies in its flexibility, neutrality and the universality of its principles. As Foreign Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin recently noted, more countries are now seeking to accede to the TAC as a means of opening the door to deeper cooperation with Asean. The Treaty offers a diplomatic "gateway" for peaceful engagement and mutual development, particularly attractive in an era marked by great-power rivalry and geopolitical fragmentation. Accession to the TAC signals a country's commitment to the Asean ethos: peaceful coexistence, non-alignment, and a preference for multilateral dialogue over confrontation. In the words of Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Algeria and Uruguay's accessions reflect their "firm commitment to these principles" and their desire to "foster dialogue, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence in an increasingly complex and interconnected world." PROCEDURE FOR ACCESSION The process of accession is deliberate and inclusive. Interested countries submit their request to the Asean Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM), which evaluates their readiness and political commitment. Recommendations are then forwarded to the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) for final decision. The accession culminates in the formal signing of the Instrument of Accession, as witnessed during this 58th AMM in Kuala Lumpur. This procedural rigour ensures that new signatories genuinely share Asean's foundational values and enhances the legitimacy of the TAC as a global diplomatic instrument. THE 2025 MILESTONE: ALGERIA AND URUGUAY JOIN THE TAC The accessions of Algeria and Uruguay mark a significant moment in the TAC's journey. Algeria represents North Africa, while Uruguay hails from Latin America—two regions historically distant from Asean's immediate geographical orbit. Their inclusion signifies the growing appeal of Asean's model of peaceful diplomacy. At the signing ceremony, Mohamad Hasan highlighted how this event deepens Asean's linkages with "regions that share our aspiration for peace, prosperity, and sustainable development." It illustrates Asean's capacity to bridge continents and ideologies through shared commitment to the rule of law and peaceful coexistence. With 57 members now under the TAC umbrella, the treaty has become a symbol of multilateral consensus in a fragmented world. It is one of the few intergovernmental frameworks where the Global North and South, liberal democracies and authoritarian regimes, and large and small states coexist under a common code of diplomatic conduct. THE TAC IN A FRAGMENTING WORLD The TAC's endurance is a testament to Asean's pragmatic diplomacy and soft institutionalism. It has allowed Asean to transform from a Cold War security alliance into a mature and outward-looking community. It has also helped Asean maintain a semblance of neutrality amidst great power rivalries, from the Cold War to today's multipolar order. In an age when many multilateral structures are under strain, the TAC offers a unique model—non-binding in enforcement, yet binding in principle; slow in process, yet steady in delivery. It provides an inclusive, ideologically neutral framework for engagement, attractive to countries from every continent seeking peace and partnership in the Indo-Pacific century. As the accession of Algeria and Uruguay has shown, the spirit of Bali 1976 continues to resonate far beyond Southeast Asia. TAC is no longer just Asean's diplomatic pillar, but it is now one of the world's most quietly successful instruments of peace.
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
58th AMM opens in KL with focus on ASEAN unity and global relevance
KUALA LUMPUR: The 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) kicked off in Kuala Lumpur, marking the start of Malaysia's leadership as ASEAN Chair for 2025. The event began with a courtesy call by ASEAN foreign ministers on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, highlighting Malaysia's role in fostering regional unity. Anwar, in his opening address, urged ASEAN to strengthen its internal cohesion and strategic relevance amid global uncertainties. He stressed the bloc's role as a driver of peace, stability, and inclusive growth. The plenary session, chaired by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, saw participation from all 10 ASEAN member states and observer Timor-Leste. Key discussions centred on the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, regional integration, and economic resilience. Ministers also addressed pressing issues, including Myanmar's political crisis. A highlight was the formal inclusion of Algeria and Uruguay as new signatories to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), reflecting ASEAN's expanding global partnerships. Mohamad later held talks with Uruguay's Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin. Running until July 11 under the theme 'Inclusivity and Sustainability,' the meetings involve 24 ministerial-level engagements with ASEAN Dialogue Partners. Over 1,500 delegates, including foreign ministers and senior officials, are attending. - Bernama
