ASEAN Dispute Management: Implications for Vietnam and an Expanded ASEAN

Abstract

Although there are various unresolved disputes among the member-states of ASEAN, the organization has succeeded in establishing codes of conduct to manage these disputes so as to promote regional co-operation. These codes of conduct include both written guidelines and unwritten norms. As a new member of ASEAN, Vietnam should learn the rules observed by other members in order to manage existing and potential disputes through an ASEAN way and thus become fully integrated with the Association. Based on ASEAN's practice of dispute management in recent years, this article seeks to draw some lessons useful to Vietnam. It concludes with a discussion of some challenges both Vietnam and its other partners might face in an expanded grouping.