Even though, culturally, Burma has more in common with the countries of Southeast Asia, it does not make sense for Rangoon to turn its back on South Asia.
Despite global condemnation of the au thoritarian regime in Rangoon, ASEAN has been maintaining a policy of "constructive engagement" with the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). This so-called constructive engagement is a policy spearheaded by Thailand with the ideological support of Lee Kwan Yew´s "Asian Way of Democracy". Its goal appears to be to promote democratisation in Burma through increased business contacts and connections with the international community. As a result, the ASEAN countries have emerged as major political and economic allies of the SLORC, with heavy investment and strong trade links.
Three decades ago, on 8 August 1967, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) came into existence, with the five founding members committed "to accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development" of their countries through regional cooperation. Recently, however, ASEAN has moved beyond its original focus. With the establishment in 1994 of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the association has moved to address political and security issues in the Asia-Pacific region as well.
The military generals of Burma, with the aim of gaining political legitimacy, are anxious to be part of ASEAN, and are not above offering ASEAN a share in Burma´s natural resources for the favour. The ASEAN leadership seems to be buying the idea. They allowed Burma to attend the recent ASEAN foreign ministers´ meeting in Bangkok as a "guest of the host country". On 10 May, Burma was actually admitted into the 19-country ASEAN Regional Forum at the ARF Senior Officials´ Meeting held in Indonesia. It is quite likely that Burma will be a fullfledged member of ASEAN by 2000.