Asean: Unity and Peace After The PCA Ruling

ASEAN, as a grouping, was given a boost with the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling which ruled that China had no legal basis in its claims over the South China Sea (SCS) bordering the countries of the Asean.

The ruling was rendered by a five-person PCA bench, and this has since then become an occasion for Asean to break away from the usual statements of condemning Beijing for its distortions of facts in the SCS.

The decision now allows the Asean to go a step further, by bringing Asean countries together to decide on the future of the region as a whole.

Asean leaders and ministers of the foreign affairs from the Asean countries has so far shown some degree of unity in delivering statements on the SCS, but in the end, the organisation has yet to show its capacity in handling security issues in the region.

The celebration of the ruling by the Hague court echoed across the Asean region, particularly in places like Hanoi, in Vietnam, where the conflict raised negative sentiments against Beijing.

The Philippines and four other Asian governments (including Vietnam) also claim much of the same South China Sea areas that China claims. The South China Sea spans 3.5 million square kilometres from Taiwan to Singapore. It is a vital trade route, and it is salient that all parties involved in the SCS sit together and decide its future with a peaceful resolution of the issues at stake.

Asean: Unity and Peace

Worldfuture Organisation, a non-governmental organisation striving for regional peace and a conflict-free Asia, is organising a forum that will focus on Asean, unity and peace. The main aim of the event is to inform the general public on the progress in resolving the SCS dispute after the PCA ruling, and on why Asean should remain united and strong in order to have enduring peace and prosperity in the region.

This event, to be held at the Sime Darby Convention Centre in Bukit Kiara, will deliver a message to Asean member states. It will be a message of peace and unity, which we, at Worldfuture, believe is salient for the resolution of the issues affecting the SCS.

The PCA Ruling

The forum will discuss the role of Asean in finding the path toward a peaceful resolution of the SCS conflict, after the PCA verdict.

The verdict was clearly against China’s historical rights claims in the waters bordering the South China Sea and the Chinese southern coasts. It altogether eliminated the ideas behind the Nine-Dash Line drawn by China. But the reality of the situation, in the seas, does not mean the conflict is over after the PCA ruling.

In fact, it calls for Asean to take a stance and to stand up as a united grouping in order to try resolve this issue without any delay.

The Event

1. How to achieve unity in Asean over regional issues, such as the SCS
2. The respect of international law, and the respect as well as the welcoming and acceptance of the PCA ruling by all parties
3. The militarisation of the SCS by China and foreign powers: How Asean can handle this situation?

The event will feature speeches on the media’s views on the SCS, the PCA ruling and the Asean media in welcoming the ruling.

The aim is to inform the Malaysian public of the real issues in the SCS and the role the Asean need to play as a united group to ensure peace in the region.

Asean: Unity and Peace will take place on Tuesday, from 5pm to 10pm.

The Speakers

The keynote address will be delivered by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, whose experience in dealing with conflicts is appreciated throughout the Asean.

Among the speakers will be Bunn Nagara from the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia will also be among the speakers, Prof Abu Bakar Osman from the University of Malaya and the former president of the Malaysian Bar Council, Raghunath Kesavan.

Other speakers from Vietnam and Malaysia will also speak at the event, which is an important one in the wake of the recent events in the SCS.

Tran Huu Duo Min from the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, will speak on Vietnam’s role in the peaceful resolution of the SCS conflict.

Online portal theindependent.sg chief editor Kumaran Pillay will speak on how the region’s media interpreted the PCA ruling.

Worldfuture

Worldfuture is a non-government organisation dedicated to anti-war and peace activities in the region. Its past events include forums on Nato and its policies in Asia, and on World War II, which were previously held at the KLCC Convention Centre.

Worldfuture was founded by Kazi Mahmood, a journalist with more than 35 years of experience, who is currently the Business Editor of Malay Mail. The organisation was founded in 2004.

For more details, and to attend the event, call: 0169223786