[Square] Vietnam Takes the Baton to Unite ASEAN

Ambassador Lim Sung-nam to ASEAN

Im Seong-nam, Ambassador to ASEAN

The actual work of ASEAN, whose chairmanship changes annually in alphabetical order, begins with the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat hosted by the chair country in January. This year, from January 16 to 17, foreign ministers gathered in Nha Trang, Vietnam, the chair country, and just before that, Vietnam officially commenced its chairmanship and announced "Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN" as the theme for ASEAN this year.

In a situation where uncertainties inside and outside ASEAN are increasing due to the confrontation of major powers, Vietnam appears to have chosen this theme based on the judgment that it is urgent to strengthen ASEAN's unity and responsiveness.

Vietnam selected five priorities for its implementation. Among them, it prioritized ASEAN's active role and contribution to maintaining regional peace and stability, emphasizing the importance of ASEAN unity and enhanced cooperation among member states to achieve this.

Experts analyzing this view this year's ASEAN theme as having become more politically charged and clearer than in the past. Considering that last year and the year before, the chair countries Thailand and Singapore set themes of "Sustainable Partnership" and "Resilience and Innovation," respectively, Vietnam is certainly sending a more political message than before.

The background for presenting such a somewhat sensitive theme can be seen as Vietnam's strategic vision and confidence. Its dazzling economic growth over the past 30 years, its second term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, and its third time as ASEAN chair country?all tangible and intangible assets?support this confidence.

However, the challenges Vietnam faces are not easy. In the now established regional US-China competition, it is not easy to strengthen ASEAN countries' unity while maintaining their own independence. The possibility of expressing differing opinions within ASEAN on sensitive issues cannot be excluded. For example, in 2012, due to disagreements among member states over the South China Sea, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' joint communiqu? was not adopted for the first time in history.

Fortunately, the US-China Phase One Trade Agreement was signed on January 15, putting the conflict between the two powers into a temporary lull, but there is always a possibility of escalation again. Also, regarding the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, China and ASEAN entered the second round of formal negotiations starting February this year, and the possibility of ASEAN divisions surfacing during this process cannot be ruled out. The task remains to prove that the "ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific," adopted by ASEAN leaders in June last year concerning the Indo-Pacific regional situation, is not just a slogan but a practical action plan.

Although ASEAN's surrounding environment is challenging, Vietnam sees this as an opportunity to strengthen ASEAN's unity. Throughout ASEAN's birth and growth, crises have acted as drivers to reinforce unity and promote regional integration and cooperation. After experiencing the financial crisis in the late 1990s, ASEAN recognized the need for a more integrated ASEAN financial market and cooperation with Korea, China, and Japan. As a result, the ASEAN+Korea-China-Japan framework was established, rapidly advancing East Asian regional cooperation.

Vietnam's message, like the Vietnamese proverb "One tree cannot make a mountain, but three trees can," calls for seamless unity and proactive response among the 10 ASEAN countries to face the waves of transformation. Having secured its survival space amid the gaps between major powers in the past, Vietnam now holds the baton of ASEAN leadership. In a situation where cracks are appearing in the international political order and new waves are coming in the global economy, the leadership of ASEAN chair Vietnam is expected to provide many implications to the international community.

Im Seong-nam, Ambassador to ASEAN