What Can Timor-Leste Bring to ASEAN?
“Results show that Timor-Leste may be more aligned with ASEAN than some might have previously thought. When asked to choose their top three (of eight) challenges facing the region (Q8), Timorese respondents chose ‘climate change and more extreme weather events’ (77.3 per cent) as the most serious, with ‘rising income inequality’ second (60.6 per cent) and ‘unemployment and economic recession’ third (57.6 per cent). Given the consistency of this ranking with the region’s, ASEAN may not need to be overly concerned that Timor-Leste would pursue different interests vis-à-vis the region.”
“Where divergences emerged between ASEAN and Timor-Leste was in their perceptions of major power competition. When asked which entities had the most economic influence in the region, ASEAN-10 respondents ranked China far ahead of the US and ASEAN, while Timorese respondents ranked ASEAN a strong second behind China. Timorese views on the most influential political and strategic power in the region, however, chimed with ASEAN-10’s. Separately, Timorese respondents placed a higher level of trust in ASEAN than the regional average.”
Source: Fulcrum – Singapore