ABSTRACT
ASEAN was formed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Its aim was to reduce tensions between South-east Asia's non-communist states, thereby freeing their weak post-colonial governments to tackle internal communist challenges, and to address development priorities. Decolonisation had left a number of territorial disputes behind. The communist victories in Indochina in 1975 marked a turning point for ASEAN. In response to the changed security environment following the end of the Vietnam War, Suharto hosted the Association's first summit, which established the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC). On the one hand, the Association's experience over Cambodia laid the foundations for the greater diplomatic role it would seek following the end of the Cold War. The Soviet Union's disintegration presented ASEAN with challenges, as well as opportunities. The Association emerged from the Cold War as South-east Asia's pre-eminent institution, in a position to contemplate enlargement on its own terms.
