Daffon, Phoenex V.

1. Reasons why Timor Leste did not participate in ASEAN.

 Sources said there were several reasons for its failure to muster the required
unanimous vote among the existing members, including its ability to meet the
required costs, its close ties with China, and a failure to speak out against the
junta in Myanmar.
 The Bangkok Declaration, also known as the ASEAN Declaration, was ratified
by the first five ASEAN members, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore, and Thailand. Then, the 2007-enacted ASEAN Charter becomes the
organization's founding document. The additional conditions listed in Article 6
Section 2 of the charter—Location in the acknowledged Southeast Asian
geographical region; Recognition by all ASEAN Member States; Agreement to be
bound and abide by the Charter; Ability and willingness to carry out the
obligations of Membership—have made the admission of new members more
challenging. In contrast to Timor-Leste, it was simpler for Cambodia, Laos,
Vietnam, and Myanmar to become members of the Organization than it was for
Timor-Leste because the Declaration's criteria solely concern geography and the
ability to adhere to its values and goals. Although the latter two needs have not
yet been met, the first three have. Following Timor-application, Leste's ASEAN
established the ASEAN Coordinating Council Working Group (ACCWG) to
ensure that the standards were met. Timor-Leste is required by the Charter to
align its legal system with ASEAN legal documents and the ASEAN Community
Blueprint in order to become a new member. According to the report, Timor
Leste's legal frameworks were only 1.6% bound by the ASEAN agreement by
2015, when it was intended for them to be fully compliant with a 50% rise in legal
alignment by June 2018. 
 Improvement in economy and human resources is needed by Timor-Leste in
securing its possibility to become a member of ASEAN. In achieving this, Timor-
Leste is still in progress for improvement, and it is impossible without any help.
On 23rd March 2017, Timor-Leste is approved to be a member of the Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which is backed by China, to improve its
economic and social development. Another apparent fact is that Timor-Leste also
joined China’s Belt and Road Energy Partnership and received aid in building
infrastructures, including Timor-Leste National Power Grid, Suai Highway, as
well as Tibar Bay Port. These aids are helpful for Timor-Leste’s development,
however, it is problematic at the same time as ASEAN by accepting Timor-Leste
would mean that China may influence Timor-Leste’s decision in ASEAN. Thus,
hampering the consensus decision-making process.
 In conclusion, the prolonging process of Timor-Leste’s admission to ASEAN is
due to shift of ASEAN Declaration towards ASEAN Charter, which allows
ASEAN in delaying the process; Timor-Leste’s economy and human resources;
and the likelihood of foreign influence within ASEAN in the future. Possibility
 and impossibility for Timor-Leste’s admission are included within the
aforementioned reasons. Despite the obstacles present ahead, Timor-Leste should
continue to be tenacious in their effort for ASEAN membership.
 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1868103419867511
 https://asc.fisipol.ugm.ac.id/2019/12/18/timor-lestes-asean-membership-to-be-or-not-
to-be/
2. What is an intergovernmental organization?
 An IGO is an organization composed primarily of sovereign states, or of other
intergovernmental organizations. IGOs are established by treaty or other agreement that
acts as a charter creating the group. Examples include the United Nations, the World
Bank, or the European Union.
 Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) are created by states through multilateral
treaties that act like a constitution in that the states parties are consenting to be bound by
the treaty that sets up the agencies, functions, and purposes of the organization. IGOs are
involved in treaty making but they also publish other documents that those researching
International law may be interested in.
 An IGO has international legal status that may include privileges, immunities, rights
and duties that are in turn based upon its founding charter or statute. As such, an IGO can
enter into agreements with other IGOs or with states. An IGO usually has a legislative
body which creates legal acts (decisions, resolutions, directives, etc.) which may bind the
IGO and its member states under international law. Most of these legislative acts do not
supersede national law (except in the EU). An IGO may have a dispute resolution
mechanism or body which is empowered to resolve disputes among its member states.
The IGO may have an executive body (such as a secretariat) which facilitates the
operations of the IGO.
3. Efforts of ASEAN towards the concept of arm struggling
- ASEAN was designed as a trust-building mechanism for its members rather than
as a platform for mediating disputes. Historically, ASEAN has been able to
minimize interstate conflict because of an adherence to the principles of
consensus, non-interference, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
- Preserving regional peace and stability, adopting a comprehensive approach to
security challenges and developing friendly and mutually beneficial relations with
external partners have been the underlying principles of ASEAN's approach to
political and security issues and developments.
- https://philnews.ph/2022/07/30/magnificence-by-estrella-alfon-full-story/
- https://asean.org/asean-10-meeting-the-challenges-by-termsak-chalermpalanupap/
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https://asean.org/in-focus/