Treaty of Amity is key to Asean success

While dealing with any contentious issue confronting Asean, the first legal answer about possible solutions to settle it peacefully has to be found in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, signed in Bali in February 1976.
This multilateral legal instrument binding not only all 10 Asean member states but also many non-members like China, Japan, India and Australia specifically provides that the parties shall have the determination and good faith to prevent disputes from arising. 
In case disputes on matters directly affecting them should arise, especially disputes likely to disturb regional peace and harmony, they shall refrain from the threat or use of force and shall at all times settle such disputes among themselves through friendly negotiations.
The treaty also contains appropriate detailed norms about putting into effect the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes between all current 34 parties to this significant legal instrument.
Ioan Voicu