ARTICLES

27 Jul 2026

ASEAN’s Convening Power Meets Its Delivery Test: Lessons From the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

Huynh Trung Dung|Joanne Lin|Kristina Fong Siew Leng

Huynh Trung Dung, Joanne Lin and Kristina Fong examine whether ASEAN can convert its convening power and shared commitments into tangible regional outcomes.

6 Mar 2026

Navigating Our Future Together? The Philippine Chairmanship in a Year of Strategic Tension

Joanne Lin|Aries A. Arugay

Joanne Lin and Aries Arugay assess the first quarter of the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship and the challenges that still lie ahead.

ASEAN ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting ASEANFocus Philippines

17 Jul 2023

Can Indonesia Ensure That ASEAN Remains in the Driver’s Seat?

Joanne Lin

Joanne Lin looks at what the recent ASEAN High-Level Meetings have achieved and if ASEAN can indeed play a regional leadership role under Indonesia’s Chairmanship.

ASEAN ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting ASEANFocus Indonesia Regional Cooperation

17 Jul 2023

A Divided ASEAN Cannot Help Myanmar’s People

Moe Thuzar|Sharon Seah

Moe Thuzar and Sharon Seah examine ASEAN's latest response to the Myanmar crisis arising from the 56th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting.

ASEAN ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting ASEANFocus Myanmar

8 Aug 2022

55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting: Much Ado About Everything (or Nothing)?

Sharon Seah|Joanne Lin|Melinda Martinus

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meetings last week occurred at a time when the region was seeing ructions, be it in the Taiwan Strait, Myanmar or the war in Ukraine. ASEAN can boast that it has retained its convening power, but this in itself might be insufficient.

ASEAN ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting China-U.S. Relations Diplomacy Myanmar Ukraine

3 Aug 2022

Ukraine’s Accession to TAC: A Critical Decision for ASEAN

Joanne Lin

ASEAN has a chance to stand up for international peace by allowing Ukraine to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. Failing to do so would highlight the weakness of the organisation at a time when small and medium states need to hold firm against great power bullying.

ASEAN ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting Russia Ukraine

24 Mar 2022

ASEAN Special Envoy in Myanmar: Too Little, Too Late?

Sharon Seah|Joanne Lin

The recent visit to Myanmar by ASEAN’s Special Envoy has been disappointing. It might be time to reconsider the grouping’s five-point consensus.

ASEAN ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting Myanmar Myanmar Politics

19 Oct 2021

ASEAN Snubs the State Administration Council (For Now)

Moe Thuzar

ASEAN's decision to allow only a 'non-political' representative from Myanmar is a blow to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing's bid to gain recognition at the grouping's high table. The question here is how long ASEAN can maintain unity and stay the course.

ASEAN ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting ASEAN Unity Myanmar Myanmar Military

22 Jul 2016

Issues and Points to Look out for at the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting and Related Meetings

Tang Siew Mun

The 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting will take place against the backdrop of The South China Sea dispute, with the leaders of ASEAN unable to give a unified position on the matter. With six foreign ministers taking part in the AMM for the first time, the collegiality and cohesion of ASEAN will be tested.

ASEAN ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting South China Sea