REFLECTIONS
A kicking idea: using sport to forge an Asean identity
- Published: 18/01/2011 at 03:16 AM
- Newspaper section: News
As a young reporter covering the foreign affairs beat in the early 1980s, the idea of a unified Southeast Asia was a faraway dream. At the time, the Asean Five (Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei) were locked in the bitter Cambodian conflict against Vietnam. How could the dream of the Asean founding fathers ever be realised with the region embroiled in bitter armed conflict? Even after the conflict ceased, each nation was burdened with deep suspicion and distrust as a result of its historical past.
But from the early 1990s onwards, Asean moved forward to welcome Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia into the association. Burma followed suit. Asean's political cohesion among its members continues to deepen despite bilateral conflicts and spats which have emerged through the years. Economic integration, however, has proven a more daunting challenge and progress, many critics have said, has been at a snail's pace.
Despite the criticisms, Asean countries are trading more with each other than ever before and the process is still moving forward.
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About the author
- Writer: Pichai Chuensuksawadi
- Position: Editor-in-Chief
