JAKARTA: It is an opportune time for Asean to use its platform to bring together rival world superpowers to encourage dialogue and cooperation, which continue to be the foundation of this 11-member regional bloc.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said through the annual Asean Summit and Related Summits involving its dialogue partners, or known as the Asean "Plus platforms" consisting of superpowers, it could lead the way for amicable solutions on pressing issues.
He said rivalry among superpowers affected the region as well, and this leaves an impact on these dialogue platforms such as the East Asia Summit and Asean Regional Forum.
Anwar said the Asean way of dialogue, and maintaining unity amidst differing opinions are attracting even more non-member countries to be party to Asean treaties.
He said those outside the region have recognised Asean as one of the most successful regional organisations, particularly with regard to its ability in maintaining a region that is peaceful, stable, secure and prosperous.
"This has attracted many to establish relations with Asean, including major powers, whose rivalries are being played out right at the centre of and adjacent to our region.
"The competition among them is impacting the implementation of cooperative initiatives under Asean-led mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit and Asean Regional Forum.
"Asean has a unique opportunity through its plus platforms, to bring together the competing parties to remind them of the need to prioritise dialogue and cooperation, to promote healthy competition and to ensure what they bring into their relations with Asean, would help maintain peace, stability and prosperity in this region," Anwar said in Malaysia's intervention at the plenary session at the 43rd Asean Summit and Related Summits here today.
In this regard, Anwar said Asean must protect itself against divisive actions from major powers by upholding the concept and practice of Asean centrality.
He said Asean needs to strengthen its institutional capacities, streamline its mechanisms, and ensure timely implementation of its decisions.
"We must not allow all that has been achieved to be undermined by the unbridled rivalry of major powers."
Anwar reiterated that recent issues such as China's 2023 edition of the standard map of the country, which raised eyebrows among critics, must be resolved peacefully and rationally based on the law.
"On the '2023 edition of the standard map of China', Malaysia had issued its statement clearly stating its position. Issues in the South China Sea must be managed in a peaceful and rational way through dialogue and consultation in accordance with the universally recognised principle of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas 1982 (UNCLOS)," said Anwar.
On Aug 28, China's Natural Resources Ministry released its 2023 China Standard Map, which included a significant portion of Malaysian waters near Sabah and Sarawak, as well as various regions in India being claimed by China.
Released in conjunction with the country's National Mapping Awareness Week and Survey and Mapping Publicity Day, the 2023 China Standard Map also incorporated disputed areas, including claims over Arunachal Pradesh, the Aksai Chin region, Taiwan and the South China Sea.
It also included maritime areas within Malaysia's exclusive economic zone near Sabah and Sarawak, Brunei, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Malaysia's Foreign Ministry had said on Aug 31 that it would send a formal protest note to China regarding the delineations of the South China Sea according to the map it released.
On a separate issue, Anwar said that
through the years, Asean members had remain united despite their differences and this was not unnoticed by Asean's critics.
However, he said differing opinions and the member states' diversity were assets that allowed the regional bloc to steer forward.
"When Asean was formed, sceptics saw our differences and diversity as liabilities. However, diversity proved to be Asean's strength."
