Speaking at a discussion themed “ASEAN in 2025: Reflecting the Past, Shaping the Future” within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Roundtable in Malaysia on June 5, Kao said that major power rivalries are among the challenges facing ASEAN.
In addition, ensuring there is an ASEAN identity among its young generations is also another challenge for the region, he said.
Agreeing with Kao, Prof. Dewi Fortuna Anwar, Chair of the Board of Directors at Indonesia's Habibie Centre, said that when the major powers are nice to each other, ASEAN can function well but when they are rivals, the grouping is squeezed.
On the issue of Myanmar, she said there should be an ASEAN-dedicated envoy on Myanmar who will have the time and ability to know what is happening on the ground and to earn the trust from the various stakeholders, so that there will be a clearer support (for Myanmar).
Anwar perceived that there should be a coordinated response, adding that she hopes there will be important positive progress in the coming time when Myanmar takes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025.
The Asia-Pacific Roundtable, held annually by the Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, discusses key issues that impact the Asia-Pacific.
