The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was founded in 1967 during the Cold War, when ideological divisions between communist and democratic states shaped the region's political landscape. Former Philippine ambassador Laura Quiambao-Del Rosario said the bloc was established to promote economic cooperation and development while addressing regional conflicts and differences among neighbouring countries. Its broader political objective was to promote peace and security in Southeast Asia.
ASEAN faces mounting challenges in maintaining regional unity and addressing conflicts among its member states, particularly as geopolitical competition between the United States and China intensifies, Del Rosario said.
