ASEAN Reaffirms Commitment to Peaceful Dispute Resolution Without Threats
ASEAN has reaffirmed its shared commitment to maintaining and promoting peace, security and stability in the region, including ensuring that disputes are settled peacefully, without threats or the use of force, in accordance with international law.
“We reaffirm our shared commitment to maintaining and promoting peace, security and stability in the region, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes,” read the joint communiqué adopted by the ASEAN foreign ministers, as quoted from the ASEAN 2026 website on Friday.
The ministers stressed that the settlement of disputes must be carried out with full respect for legal and diplomatic processes in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Furthermore, the ministers reaffirmed the importance of the ASEAN Political-Security Community Strategic Plan (APSC Strategic Plan), which embodies the vision of a peaceful, stable and secure region based on the principles of the ASEAN Charter, the United Nations Charter and international law.
“The Strategic Plan affirms ASEAN’s determination to maintain and strengthen ASEAN Centrality through ASEAN-led mechanisms and other relevant platforms,” the communiqué stated.
ASEAN also expressed its commitment to contributing to a rules-based international order grounded in international law amid rising geopolitical tensions and rivalries, as well as contributing to the maintenance of international peace and security through the enforcement of a rules-based multilateral system and international law.
In the communiqué, the ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Timor-Leste’s integration into the ASEAN Community following its official admission as ASEAN’s 11th member.
They welcomed the agreement of ASEAN leaders on the Cebu Protocol to amend the ASEAN Charter, which formally reflects the expansion of the organisation’s membership, and emphasised the importance of Timor-Leste’s full and effective participation in all ASEAN processes and structures.
ASEAN also stated that it looked forward to progress in implementing the roadmap for Timor-Leste’s full membership, including accession to the various ASEAN treaties and legal instruments.
In the communiqué, the ministers noted that this year marks the first year of implementing “ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future” and reaffirmed their commitment to realising that vision through the implementation of the Strategic Plans of the three ASEAN Community Pillars and ASEAN Connectivity, to build a resilient, innovative, dynamic and people-centred ASEAN by 2045.
The ministers also welcomed the launch of the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Strategic Plan 2026-2030 and emphasised the importance of coordinated, coherent and results-oriented implementation of all ASEAN 2045 strategic plans.
ASEAN was founded in 1967 and currently has 11 member states: Brunei Darussalam, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.