Breaking ASEAN Stereotypes
Southeast Asians often rank, compare, and stereotype one another, despite the talk of ASEAN unity.
“Singaporeans are too strict”, “Malaysians are too soft”, “Filipinos are too noisy” and "Thais are too easygoing”
These stereotypes persist in daily life, classrooms, and online, revealing deeper divides than the "one community" slogan suggests.
As ASEAN leaders meet in Kuala Lumpur for the 47th ASEAN Summit, the question of how well Southeast Asians truly understand each other remains.
Luo Chen Jun, a former Singaporean civil servant, notes that people often see his country first when participating in regional exchanges.
Author's summary: ASEAN unity is tested by lingering stereotypes.