What is the value of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in southeast Asia?
Singed by the heads of government of the Asean member-states on 24 February 1976, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia lays down the basic principles for inter-state relations in the region: 1) Respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identify of all nations; 2) Freedom from external interference, subversions or coercion; 3) Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another; 4) the peaceful settlement of dispute; 5) Renunciation of the threat or use of forces; 5) effective cooperation among themselves. As of today, there are 16 countries and one grouping have acceded to the treaty. The US has indicated that it will do so in the future.
