Peace in the region was stressed nearly 30 times in the ASEAN Chairman’s Statement at the regional summit in Kuala Lumpur. Two months later, the bloc’s chair, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, brought the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia together in Putrajaya as violence intensified, having claimed over 40 lives as reported by the media.
There were two meetings, the first with the three ASEAN leaders and the second with U.S. and Chinese observers.
Prime Minister Anwar celebrated the Malaysia-facilitated ceasefire the following day at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, harkening back to the principles of consensus-driven decision-making and non-interference.
However, the ceasefire followed overtures from U.S. President Trump and China regarding the Thai-Cambodia border crisis. The hesitation for swift action created a space for external powers to assert influence.
Despite the urgency of the conflict, ASEAN’s response, with Malaysia as chair, has been limited to calls for restraint and dialogue, casting doubt on its relevance in a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape.
ASEAN’s consensus-based approach has been criticized for impeding coordinated action when needed most and leaving the region vulnerable to crises that require decisive action and could lead to an erosion of the institution’s leadership in the region.
There is significance in the greater involvement of China and the United States, showing larger, outside powers taking on a prominent role, potentially undermining ASEAN’s foundation.
A prolonged crisis, combined with rising tensions, would amplify risks in a region that’s already under pressure from global tariffs and superpower rivalry.
ASEAN, then, must adapt its mechanisms to respond more swiftly to such crises while maintaining its central role in regional governance. Prime Minister Anwar has often espoused an ideology of active non-alignment in an increasingly polarized world, a philosophy that must now be put to the test.
While the agreement on Monday sets the tone for future engagements, there have already been reports of violations. The border crisis gives Prime Minister Anwar and Malaysia, during our ASEAN chairmanship, an opportunity to lead.
Malaysia appears to pursue berhemah-led diplomacy, characterized by decisive action guided by tact and based on moral pragmatism. Prime Minister Anwar has substantial diplomatic and peacemaking credentials. Through him, Malaysia carries an unthreatening identity suitable for a mediator.
This would bring the focus back to ASEAN in maintaining unity and leadership, giving balance to external interests and safeguarding its pivotal role in Southeast Asia’s security.
The stakes are high, and the objective is not to resolve a centuries-old dispute between two neighbours but impress upon them that they are neighbours. Thailand and Cambodia may not agree on border demarcations, but their geographies are fixed, and they will need to rely on each other for the next century.