How are Asean decisions made?
Normally, and like most other regional associations of sovereign states, Asean decides b consensus and not by taking a vote. This does not necessarily mean that every decision has to be categorically and explicitly supported by everyone of the member state. It means that no member opposes the decision strong enough to directly register its objection. In such a process, no member-state would feel “defeated” by a decision. In some cases, some Asean agreements go into effect without the ratification of all the signatories. The Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone treaty required only seven ratifications to enter into force. The Asean agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution needed only six ratifications to become effective. Some Asean projects go forward on the basis of the Asean minus X or two plus X formula; that is, two or more membersnot necessarily allmay go ahead and engage in a cooperative project, which is open to the participation of the others when they are ready.
