Compass World: 2018 ASEAN Summit in Review
By Jia Sheng & Arin Chinnasathian
Reaching the Summit
Singapore hosted several international events from November 11 to November 15. The series of summits included the 33rd ASEAN Summit, the East Asia Summit, which evolved out of the ASEAN Plus Six system, and various meetings between ASEAN countries and other Indo-Pacific nations.
The theme of the 2018 ASEAN Summit was resilience and innovation, including the adoption of the Smart Cities Framework, which addresses the challenges that arise alongside the rapid economic development and urbanization in ASEAN countries. ASEAN leaders also addressed recent geopolitical challenges ranging from trade tensions to terrorism and climate change, calling for unity amid the current turbulence.
On November 14 and 15, ASEAN leaders held separate meetings with partners in the Asia Pacific, including China, Russia, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, and the United States. On the last day of the summit, Singapore handed over the symbolic gravel of the ASEAN chairship to Thailand, which announced that next year’s summit will focus on “Advancing Partnership for Sustainability.”
Say What???
Singapore
In his opening remarks, President Lee Hsien Loong emphasized the importance of multilateral cooperation as the current international order comes under stress. Lee expressed fear over the trends of great power competition and the shift away from multilateralism, asserting his firm belief in the ASEAN community and the ties forged among the ten countries.
The Philippines
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte got media attention not for his policies or beliefs but his power naps in between—and during—important meetings. On November 14, Duterte skipped six of the 11 activities, including the gala dinner hosted by Singapore for heads of government. When asked his reason for skipping half of the events, Duterte blamed the hectic schedule of the summit, saying that he would need power naps to go through activities the next day, as well. The president’s office said that there were no political motives behind Duterte’s actions and claimed that he is in perfect health.
Malaysia
In contrast with Duterte, Mahathir bin Mohammed, the 93-year-old Malaysian prime minister, actively participated in all ASEAN events. “I always attend meetings. It's my duty. If I can, I will. If I'm sick, I won't,” he added. As a result, Mahathir received praise from some Filipinos, who ridiculed their own president’s inability to stay awake throughout the summit. Mahathir also criticized Myanmar’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, expressing disappointment at her handling of the Rohingya crisis, which the United Nations has said may constitute genocide.
Myanmar
Aung San Suu Kyi faced criticism over the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in the country’s northern Rakhine state. Mahathir called her actions “indefensible.” Vice President Mike Pence also called her inaction “inexcusable” and said that the detainment of two Reuters journalists remained “deeply troubling” to the United States. In her address, Aung San Suu Kyi called for foreign investment in Myanmar, describing her country as “the last frontier of Southeast Asia.”
Cambodia
Human rights issues in Cambodia were discussed during the summit. Due to the principle of non-intervention endorsed by ASEAN leaders, members mostly refrain from criticizing other member states for their poor human rights records. To address this issue, a group of liberal lawmakers gathered in Singapore in cooperation with the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights to address the issues in Myanmar and Cambodia. Such effort was fiercely criticized by the Cambodian government. The spokesman, Phay Siphan, called it the “devil’s work against Cambodia” and characterized it as a violation of ASEAN principles.
Brunei
Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah praised ASEAN’s effort to promote regional peace and prosperity. Aligning with Lee’s call for multilateral cooperation, Bolkiah saw ASEAN as the cornerstone of peace and security not only in Southeast Asia but also the wider Asia-Pacific. Bolkiah specifically showed appreciation for the “Guidelines on Third Country Consular Assistance,” which were adopted during the summit to promote development in emerging economies.
Thailand
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed the country’s support of innovation, connectivity, and regional resilience. Prayut emphasized the need for regional cooperation on economic and humanitarian issues, such as Thailand’s migrant labor situation and the Rohingya crisis.
Vietnam
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also noted the need to advance the region’s “resilience and innovation.” The prime minister urged parties to the summit to enhance regional and bilateral cooperation, stressing the importance of respect for the international rule of law and creative partnership. Nguyen also expressed support for ASEAN-China cooperation on the South China Sea dispute, which grows out of rival claims by China, Taiwan, and several ASEAN member states.
Indonesia
President Joko Widodo emphasized the need for political stability and cooperation in the region. He remarked that ASEAN should be able to lead the handling of geopolitical threats to the region to promote multilateral cooperation. Widodo said that innovation, centrality, and regional connectivity are key to make ASEAN a more powerful political unit and ensure prosperity for all.
Laos
Laotian Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith shared the recognition of the ASEAN’s three community blueprints—political-security, economic, and socio-cultural community blueprints—as the fundamental instruments to drive regional development.
The Summit of All Fears
The ASEAN community still struggles to enforce its own human rights standards. Despite Malaysia’s scathing criticism of Aung San Suu Kyi, other ASEAN member states did not follow suit. Member countries displayed concern but still offered continued support to Myanmar. It is reflective of the enduring strength of ASEAN’s non-interference principle.
Geopolitics becomes a central issue as the trade war between the U.S. and China continued to intensify. Countries such as Singapore and Indonesia expressed clear concerns with great power competition, saying that it may adversely affect multilateral cooperation and political stability in the region. Stay tuned for continuing coverage of regional events and trends from the Caravel.