ASEAN, AUSTRALIA REAFFIRM COMMITMENT TO REGIONAL PEACE AND STABILITY

By Ahmad Erwan Othman & Mohd Adli Shahar

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- ASEAN and Australia have reaffirmed their collective commitment to prevent conflict and strengthen peace in the Indo-Pacific through a joint statement adopted at the 5th ASEAN-Australia Summit held here today.

In the ASEAN-Australia Joint Leaders’ Statement on Conflict Prevention and Crisis Management in the ASEAN-led Regional Architecture, both emphasised that “the peace and stability of our region are our collective responsibility, and underscoring our shared commitment to working together to advance the security and prosperity of the region.”

They reaffirmed “mutual respect for the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, equality, non-interference and political independence of all nations” as enshrined in the UN Charter, the ASEAN Charter, and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Acknowledging growing risks, the leaders said they were “concerned by the increase in conflicts in recent years and the respective dire consequences, including on the health and safety of civilians and humanitarian personnel, civilian infrastructure, economic prosperity and energy and food security.”

They also “acknowledged growing concerns that intensifying geostrategic shifts are heightening the risk of conflict, reiterating calls for peace and stability in the region, emphasising ASEAN’s role in shaping and leading the evolving regional architecture...”

Reaffirming ASEAN’s leadership role, the statement said, “we reiterate our commitment to supporting an ASEAN-centred, open, inclusive, transparent, resilient, and rules-based regional architecture that upholds international law, built upon ASEAN-led mechanisms, including the East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus).”

The leaders further recognised that “addressing heightened tensions requires a proactive approach by all states to maintain peace and prevent conflict, in particular between major powers through promoting mutual reassurance and opening lines of communication at all levels.”

They also reaffirmed the “importance of supporting ASEAN-led efforts in maintaining and promoting peace, stability, maritime safety and security, freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful maritime commerce and other internationally lawful uses of the sea in the region.”

The statement highlighted continued attention on the South China Sea, noting that “we continue to closely follow developments... and take note of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Statement on Maintaining and Promoting Stability in the Maritime Sphere in Southeast Asia.”

The leaders pledged 13 key commitments to bolster regional peace mechanisms and conflict prevention efforts.

One of the pledges is to “strive to maintain regional peace, stability and prosperity, through maintaining and strengthening an open, inclusive, transparent, resilient, and rules-based regional architecture with ASEAN at its centre that upholds international law and supports ASEAN’s efforts in developing practical cooperation to reduce the risk of conflict in the Indo-Pacific.”

-- BERNAMA