Whither Asean?

For critics of Asean, the situation in Myanmar, the South China Sea impasse and now the festering conflict on the Thai-Cambodian border point to its inefficacy as a regional grouping, hindered by its principles of consensus and noninterference.

- Clement Tan

They point to the limits of Asean's conflict management mechanisms when member states slide into confrontation.

The ongoing conflict between Cambodia and Thailand in the face of ceasefire agreements facilitated mainly by outgoing Asean chair Malaysia and its Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, China and the US has been a strain on the grouping's credibility. The sporadic violence violates Asean's principles of the non-use of force and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

"There are more than a few things that Asean does and does well. Intervening in war once it has started is not one of them," said Associate Professor Simon Tay, chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.

"The group has no experience and has no power or clear mandate. Globally, threats to international peace are to be resolved by the UN Security Council and the great powers," he added.

"I am therefore mystified why some, including so-called experts, demand Asean step in to the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. Under Malaysia's chairmanship, the group has already done more than it has in its past," said Prof Tay, who also teaches international law at the National University of Singapore.