The Security Role of ASEAN in the Asia-Pacific Region

While Asia today is enjoying great economic growth, it is also facing an uncertain future with regard to its security. From the Korean peninsula to the Indian sub-continent, from the Sino-Russian border to Indonesian East Timor, and from Tibet to the South China Sea, potential exists for a resurgence of disputes that threaten to explode into open conflicts. In fact, regional security will probably worsen before any improvement is likely to occur. Any major conflict will have an adverse effect on the world, especially on the huge populations in the nations of the region. ASEAN has come a long way since its founding in 1967 and its recent successes show its maturity. ASEAN is today more confident about its capabilities and is committed to maintaining the peace and stability in the region. Among the many disputes in Asia, a peaceful resolution of the Spratly Islands and Taiwan issues is of great importance. ASEAN will continue to engage China in constructive dialogue while encouraging the presence of the United States as a stabilizing and deterrent force in the region. ASEAN hopes to play a larger regional security role by collectively encouraging conflict resolution while at the same time some of its members are modernizing their armed forces