Last month, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) welcomed a new member: East Timor.
I first learned about Asean as part of my civics education in primary school. Back then, Asean was made up of only five countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, the founding members who created the association in 1967.
In 1984, Brunei joined after it achieved full independence. Between 1995 and 1999, the mainland Southeast Asian nations of Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia became full members, and “Asean-10” was, for the next quarter of a century, a catchy label for the organisation.
Initially formed to contain the spread of communism during the Cold War, Asean’s present mission is to build a cohesive, prosperous region, and deepen regional cooperation and integration. Geopolitically, this association is also meant to shield its member states from superpower rivalries and ambitions.
After 58 years, has the alliance met any of its objectives? To put it diplomatically, it is a work in progress.
East Timor’s Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao at a reception for his country’s admission to Asean at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 27, 2025. Photo: AP
