(Jakarta): Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen reflected on four principal reasons that led him to advocate for Cambodia’s accession to ASEAN, addressing at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, on Monday (May 5) to commemorate the 26th anniversary of Cambodia’s membership in ASEAN.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen recalled, “There were four major reasons that I believed Cambodia must join ASEAN, and even nearly 30 years later, all four remain significant.”
Samdech Techo outlined these reasons as follows:
First, the principle of non-interference in internal affairs. The most compelling reason for Cambodia’s accession to ASEAN was its foundational principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states.
Samdech Techo stressed that Cambodia’s painful history—marked by foreign interventions during the Cold War, internal divisions, and the overthrow of His Late Majesty King Father Norodom Sihanouk—demonstrated the destructive consequences of external interference. Cambodia became a theatre for proxy wars and civil conflict, including genocide. Thus, ASEAN’s commitment to non-interference was, and remains, particularly significant—not only for Cambodia but for all member states seeking to preserve their sovereignty.
He further emphasised that this principle serves as a collective safeguard, fostering mutual respect among ASEAN members and deterring outside influence.
Second, the spirit of community and consensus. ASEAN functions through consensus and mutual respect, offering equal standing to all member countries regardless of size, wealth, or historical background.
Samdech Techo noted that ASEAN’s avoidance of majority voting helps prevent division. While the consensus-based approach may create occasional tension, it has historically maintained long-term unity within the region.
Responding to critics who argue that newer members exploit consensus to serve their own interests, he questioned whether original members have always reached unanimous decisions themselves. The ASEAN founding fathers, he explained, anticipated such challenges and embraced consensus as a tool for inclusion, flexibility, and balance in a region marked by diversity. This approach reflects ASEAN’s unique diplomatic culture, rather than a rigid rule.
Third, economic and social integration. Samdech Techo underlined the tangible benefits ASEAN membership has brought to Cambodia and its neighbours through enhanced physical and institutional connectivity. He cited efforts to reduce development disparities, build regional infrastructure, and ease visa processes, which have facilitated greater movement of people and goods.
He particularly highlighted the 2000 ASEAN Integration Initiative as a turning point for Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, which benefited from capacity-building efforts and assistance in narrowing the gap with more advanced ASEAN economies.
Fourth, ASEAN as Cambodia’s diplomatic gateway. According to Samdech Techo, ASEAN has served as Cambodia’s vital diplomatic platform. By joining ASEAN, Cambodia gained immediate access to partnerships with the organisation’s extensive network of external dialogue partners, whose relationships have expanded in both scope and significance.
While Cambodia has greatly benefited from ASEAN, Samdech Techo emphasised that the Kingdom has also played an active role in shaping regional policy and contributing to ASEAN’s collective progress.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional organization consisting of ten Southeast Asian countries namely Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Viet Nam, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, which joined on April 30, 1999, during a summit in Viet Nam. ASEAN is an intergovernmental regional organization that promotes cooperation and facilitates integration among its members since its establishment on 8 August 1967. Its main objectives include promoting economic growth, social progress, and cultural development, while maintaining regional stability and providing a platform for member countries to resolve disputes peacefully.
=FRESH NEWS
