Region should focus on problems more at hand

After 51 years of our “friendship and cooperation” Asean, why we (the Asean members) still invest abysmal amount of budget for ridiculous military devices like jet fighters, destroyers and submarines. Yet our commercial vessels are still attacked by pirates in our seas. We still have bush fires in our precious forest areas, which are destroying our resources and producing tremendous amount of pollution. And you claim it deserves a Nobel?
May I call on all Asean leaders to stop this arms race and spend our budget wisely to protect our commercial vessels from pirate attacks and keep the environment safe. 
Prasan Stianrapapongs
Pattaya