Malaysia Proposes Asean Peacekeeping Force for South China Sea
Malaysia is proposing a joint peacekeeping force to help rebuild trust among Southeast Asian countries after bitter arguments over their handling of China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, reports WSJ.
Members of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) — not all of which have interests in the South China Sea — have widely disagreed in recent years over how to deal with Beijing. The Philippines and Vietnam have accused China of aggressive behavior.
The disagreements between ASEAN members have spilled out at recent summits and cast doubt on a project to form a new “Asean Community” in December designed to usher in an age of regional unity.
Malaysian Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammudin Hussein said last month that, as chair, his country would push for the formation of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) peacekeeping force.
The peacekeeping force, if indeed established, will officially be designated for humanitarian operations in conflict zones and natural disaster sites. However, it will also be the first regional force through which member nations can work together in a defence framework. If successful, it has the potential to transform the nature of Asean member states’ engagement vis-a-vis China.
Defense ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will study the African Union’s model in their quest to set up an integrated peacekeeping force.
"African Union peacekeeping forces "go under the UN (flag), so why not Asean? We just have to check how they do it," Hussein said.
Cambodia has agreed to support Malaysia's proposed establishment of an Asean Peacekeeping Force.
Seasoned ASEAN observers know that the idea of an ASEAN peacekeeping force is nothing new and has been around for years. Nor is it a purely Malaysian idea – other Southeast Asian countries and ASEAN bigwigs have also supported it the past.
