Survey: Most Southeast Asians positive about ASEAN

SINGAPORE: Seventy-eight per cent of Southeast Asia’s population have a positive view of ASEAN, according to a survey conducted by Singapore-based market research consultancy Blackbox Research.

The research was conducted to coincide with ASEAN’s 50th anniversary.

In the first major public survey of citizens conducted across all 10 ASEAN nations, the findings show that while most Southeast Asians are both positive and optimistic about ASEAN and its future, nearly 74 per cent believe ASEAN’s future development should be faster than it has been to date.

The survey of 3,040 adults, aged 18 and over, was conducted in October 2017.

The survey found that the most positive are citizens in Laos (88 per cent) while the least positive are Singaporeans (59 per cent).

Just under half (47 per cent) believe ASEAN has achieved major success in its first 50 years while 39 per cent only think it has been a minor success.

Indonesians and Myanmar citizens are most likely to view ASEAN as a major success (65 per cent) while Singaporeans are the least likely (only 26 per cent).

Fifty-four per cent of the respondents feel ASEAN primarily as an economic association while 20 per cent view it first and foremost as a political association.

Southeast Asians, in describing ASEAN, are more likely to use the word “hope” (63 per cent) than “trust” (49 per cent) or “enthusiasm” (33 per cent).

Only 26 per cent believe that ASEAN should continue with its current pace of development moving forwards, while 53 per cent said it should move “a little faster today” and 21 per cent said it should move “much faster than today”.

Eighty-eight per cent would support eventual full economic integration between ASEAN countries while 68 per cent would even support a regional currency in the future.

“The findings show that perceptions often differ between Southeast Asian nations on specific topics and issues relating to ASEAN,” Blackbox Owner and Managing Director David Black said.

“This reflects the diversity in the region. It is clear, however, that Southeast Asians are firmly behind ASEAN and if anything, want to see more ambition from it.

“The results also show that even after 50 years, ASEAN is still viewed more in terms of its potential and what it promises rather than on any specific achievements,” he said.

The study also examined perceptions about the two major global powers (China and the US) and their influence in the region.

Although Southeast Asians are largely positive about both countries, they are four times more likely to see strong ties with China as a key to ASEAN priority rather than the US (17 per cent to four per cent). - Bernama