Page 63 - EU_ASEN Relations: Perspectives From Malaysia

higher education regionalism. Nevertheless, improvement of Malaysian-EU

relations in terms of higher education still remains.
The full potential of the EU-ASEAN relationship has not yet been unlocked.

Both regions have more than one billion citizens; and hence, consumers.
However, an inter-regional free trade agreement is yet to be achieved. China is

widening its influence in Southeast Asia with its Belt-and-Road Initiative

(BRI), whereas European investments in ASEAN infrastructure are still
progressing slowly. ASEAN’s Master Plan on Connectivity 2025 deserves

more attention from the European side.

Political and security dialogue between both regional organisations is
hampered, due to other priorities on both sides. Additionally, nationalistic and

xenophobic movements are on the rise in both regions. If these were to gain
more influence, or if more narrow-minded, inward-looking leaders come to

power, the cooperation between ASEAN and the EU is subject to being
weakened.

It is important that both the EU and ASEAN acknowledge their common

interests but at the same time, accept the differences that exist between them.
Both sides should agree on the pursuit of business interests and trade with each

other, which poses the biggest potential for an improvement of the mutual
relationship. The European Union, which was the Noble Peace Prize laureate

in 2012, perceives itself as a region that promotes democracy, rule of law,
human rights, religious tolerance, and environmental protection. Nearly all of

these form very sensitive issues for most ASEAN member state governments.

Not surprisingly, ASEAN has rejected all EU attempts to pressure for domestic
reforms and challenge the Asian doctrine of non-intervention.

The fact that the EU used its perceived moral superiority only selectively to

push particular and sometimes symbolic policies in the ASEAN’s member
states cries hypocrisy or double standards. These misunderstandings have often

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