ASEAN Understanding

The Association of Southeast Asian Nation or ASEAN was established on 8 August 1067 in Bangkok by the the five original Member Countries, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined on 8 January 1984, Vietnam on 28 July 1995, Las PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999.

Objectives
The ASEAN Declaration states that the aims and purpose of the Association are: (1) to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and (2) to promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among counties in the region and adherence to the principle of the United Nation Charter.

The ASEAN have three pillars, namely ASEAN Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community  and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.

The ASEAN Member Countries have adopted the following fundamental principles  in their relations with one another, as contained in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC)

• mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity of all nations;
• the right of every State to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion or coercion;
• non-interference in the internal affairs of one another;
• settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner;
• renunciation of the threat or use of force; and
• effective cooperation among themselves