At 50, ASEAN peace pact expands from 5 to 58
ASEAN foreign ministers on Monday commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), highlighting the pact’s role in sustaining regional peace, expanding diplomatic engagement, and strengthening ASEAN’s central role in the evolving Indo-Pacific architecture.
Signed on 24 February 1976 in Bali, Indonesia during the first ASEAN Summit, the TAC has evolved from an agreement among five founding member states into a widely embraced diplomatic instrument with 58 High Contracting Parties (HCPs) today.
In a joint statement issued in Manila, the ministers described the TAC as “a foundational code of conduct for interstate relations in the region and a cornerstone of regional peace and stability.”
From regional pact to global commitment
Originally signed by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, the treaty was created to promote “perpetual peace, everlasting amity and cooperation amongst the peoples in Southeast Asia, in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter.”
Over five decades, ASEAN officials said the treaty’s principles — including mutual respect for sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, peaceful settlement of disputes, renunciation of the threat or use of force, and effective cooperation — have provided a stable diplomatic framework in a region marked by diversity and complexity.
The ministers underscored that the treaty’s expansion from five signatories to 58 HCPs “underscores the Treaty’s enduring appeal through the past five decades, as a foundation for peaceful relations, mutual respect, and cooperation in the region and beyond.”
Foundation of ASEAN centrality
Beyond conflict prevention, the TAC has served as a pillar of ASEAN Centrality — reinforcing ASEAN-led platforms such as the East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum, and other dialogue mechanisms.
The ministers emphasized that the “aspirations and commitments embodied in the TAC serve as a key foundation of ASEAN Centrality and contribute to strengthening the ASEAN-led regional architecture, anchored in dialogue, consultation, and cooperation.”
They said these principles remain consistent with the UN Charter, the ASEAN Charter, the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), positioning the TAC as both a regional and international normative instrument.
Deepening engagement with external partners
As geopolitical tensions rise globally, ASEAN foreign ministers called on all HCPs to reaffirm their commitments and fully comply with the treaty’s obligations.
They encouraged High Contracting Parties to build on the 50th anniversary momentum by deepening engagement with ASEAN in ways that are “ASEAN-driven, strategic, relevant, mutually beneficial, and responsive to current and emerging challenges.”
The statement also pointed to ongoing efforts to develop clearer guidelines for how HCPs engage with ASEAN, ensuring alignment with ASEAN priorities, including the AOIP and the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
The ministers said the commemoration should serve as “a catalyst for deeper, more coherent, and more impactful ASEAN external engagements.”
Sustaining peace for the next 50 years
ASEAN also welcomed growing interest from countries seeking to accede to the TAC, underscoring that accession reflects a commitment to the treaty’s principles and continued engagement with ASEAN in promoting peace, stability, and cooperation.
To further strengthen the treaty’s relevance, ASEAN committed to enhancing research efforts on peace, reconciliation, conflict management, and conflict resolution, while upholding ASEAN Centrality across all ASEAN-led mechanisms.
The Philippines, as ASEAN Chair, will host the main commemorative activity for the 50th anniversary of the TAC on 24 July 2026 in Manila.
As ASEAN looks toward its Community Vision 2045, foreign ministers said the treaty’s enduring principles will continue guiding the region in building “a resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centered ASEAN.”
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