To this end, he raised the examples of ASEAN “diligently working” to cooperate on the economy, infrastructure and the digital economy.
“But at the same time, ASEAN countries have some very difficult problems to resolve. Some of them – Myanmar internally, Thailand and Cambodia with an armed conflict – not really fully resolved,” said Mr Lee.
“ASEAN has to try and resolve them with some difficulty.”
During the dialogue, Mr Lee was asked by Prof Chan whether the US’ and China’s involvement in resolving the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia sets a future trend of conflict settlement within the bloc.
Mr Lee said in response that while ASEAN can influence its members, it does not have “absolute influence”.
“ASEAN is not a supranational body with executive powers. It doesn’t direct its members. It cannot override its members. It works by ASEAN consensus. It’s a famous principle, we pride ourselves on it. It’s the reason we are able to get along together,” he said.
The 11 member countries all have different policies, priorities, histories and security concerns, so it is not possible for them to operate like one country, he said.
The greatest power and influence actually goes to those who trade with the bloc the most, said Mr Lee. Intra-ASEAN trade among the bloc’s members constitutes only about 20 per cent of their international trade, he noted.
“Our biggest trading partners are with the developed economies, America foremost amongst them, and in our region, with China. And that is where influence can come,” said Mr Lee.
“Apart from the economy, there’s also many other ways in which the major powers can exercise influence on ASEAN members, so it’s not surprising that the major powers are able to nudge, encourage, advise, even coerce other countries to do something which they would like to do, to some extent.”
