15 October 2011

Editorial: ASEAN in the Asian Century

By Fuadi Pitsuwan

The term ‘Asian Century’ is frequently used these days to describe the re-emergence of Asia as the world’s epicentre of political, economic and socio-cultural activities. Comparable to the Europeans emerging out of the Dark Ages, ‘Asians are rediscovering their own past and deriving inspiration from it for the future,’ as George Yeo, a well-respected former foreign minister of Singapore, described it. But what is ‘Asia’ in this case? Does the ‘Asian Century’ include small and middle income countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations? And what does ASEAN have to do to keep riding with the rising tigers of Asia?

Read the full story at The Diplomat