The Essential Role of the ASEAN Political-Security Community

The ASEAN Community is set to be launched officially on December 31, 2015. The community will bring about a breath of fresh air and renewed vitality to the whole region and benefit more than 600 million regional residents.

A briefing about the ASEAN Political-Security Community and Vietnam’s roles was given by a representative from the Foreign Ministry who acknowledged that ASEAN would become a community of “political connection, economical integration and shared social responsibilities”, based on the three pillars of the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC). The community is expected to play a central role and to actively contribute to peace, stability and cooperation for development in the region.

The ASEAN Political-Security Community aimed at the enhancement of collaboration on politics and security among member countries together with outsiders’ engagement and contribution to ensure that ASEAN members peacefully get on well with each other and with other countries in a world of justice, democracy and harmony, said the representative from the Foreign Ministry.

ASEAN Defence Ministers pose for a photo at the 9th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) in Malaysia.
Photo: Kim Dung – Chi Giap/VNA

The 9^th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) held in Malaysia. Photo: Kim Dung – Chi Giap/VNA

Thai Chief of the Defence Forces General Worapong Sanganetra pays an official visit to Vietnam. Photo: Hong Pha/VNA

Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh receives ASEAN Naval Chiefs. Photo: Trong Duc/VNA

The 24^th ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet (AARM-24) held in Vietnam. Photo: Trong Duc/VNA

The 1^st ASEAN-US Summit held in Brunei in 2013. Photo: Duc Tam/VNA

The Vietnamese Coast Guard conducts a pirate countering drill to ensure maritime safety and security in the East Sea.
Photo: Trong Duc/VNA

The Political-Security Community develops a comprehensive approach to security issues, including political, economic, socio-cultural and environmental aspects; boosting political cooperation as well as building and sharing common standards of conduct. It will also reinforce the trend of refraining from using force and settling disputes by peaceful means; help prevent and resolve disputes; broaden the relationship with outside partners; and maintain the central role of ASEAN in regional structure.

The views of delegates at the seminar coincided on claiming that the ASEAN Political-Security Community is a pillar of great significance to ASEAN, especially in the context of complicated developments of the regional political-security situation. The rising tensions in the East Sea requires that ASEAN states need to foster the solidarity and strengthen the central role and position of ASEAN in resolving regional and international security issues.

By VNA/VNP