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As I see it | In denouncing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Singapore, Cambodia and Thailand show the beginning of an Asean spine
- Collectively, the bloc’s response to Putin’s aggression was such a non-statement one wonders why it bothered
- But the more principled stand of individual countries suggests there is hope yet for the group’s relevance. Countries now must take a similar approach to Myanmar
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Even by its own standards, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has faced considerable criticism in recent months.
Most critically, on dealing with Myanmar’s military rulers – whether to choose tough love or engagement – the 10-nation bloc has been so badly divided that many observers have suggested the crisis could mark the beginning of the end of its relevance.
Similar condemnations were heard last weekend, when the grouping cobbled together a short statement to address the Russian invasion of Ukraine. There was no criticism of what was irrefutably naked aggression by Moscow. Instead the grouping called on “all relevant parties to exercise maximum restraint”.
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Why even bother with such a non-statement, some learned observers asked.
Asean as a grouping may have offered a vacuous response to the Russian invasion, but on Wednesday night most of the region’s national governments made clear their individual positions were that the aggression was unacceptable.
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