Timor-Leste's membership divides Asean

Timor-Leste's long-awaited bid to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is in jeopardy. It has encountered unexpected headwinds — this time from the Philippines.

- Kavi Chongkittavorn

The sudden diplomatic friction stems from Dili’s refusal to extradite Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr, a former Filipino congressman accused of terrorism and multiple murders, back to Manila.

The episode has added another layer of complexity to Timor-Leste's accession to Asean. The bloc’s enlargement process between 1995-1999 was far smoother than when the founding members of Asean met when they formed the bloc during the 1960s. As the region’s youngest democracy, TimorLeste’s domestic political dynamics and broader geopolitical rivalry and alignment also raise the ante.

At the upcoming 47th Asean Summit, which will take place May 25-27 in Kuala Lumpur, Asean leaders will have to take a clear stance on whether Timor-Leste will join their club or if the door will remain closed for another year or two.

Malaysia, the current Asean chair, in particular Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, has been one of the most vocal supporters of expansion. Kuala Lumpur has backed Dili’s inclusion consistently, and it has been joined by countries like Indonesia, Cambodia, and Thailand. But consensus remains elusive. Other member states — while not opposing Timor-Leste’s membership outright — have shown less enthusiasm, reiterating its limited institutional capacity, underdeveloped economy, and at times, confrontational political rhetoric.

Timor-Leste, a nation of just over 1.3 million people, has been widely lauded for its democratic progress since gaining independence in 2002. Its press freedom indexes in various Western-based media monitoring organisations put it among the world’s top 50 countries, leaving other Asean members behind.