Government of Timor-Leste

The 5^th Editions of the “State of Southeast Asia” survey, published last February 9^th by the ASEAN Studies Centre of the ISEAS-Yusoh Ishak Institute in Singapore, reports that “61.5% of ASEAN respondents overwhelmingly support the accession of Timor-Leste”.

According to the poll, “the strongest expression of support came from Cambodia with 93.3% and the Philippines with 69.7%”. 67,8% of respondents in Indonesia support Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN.

Of the participants who support Timor-Leste’s admission, “48.7% say that a new member will strengthen ASEAN’s unity and centrality”.

9.9% of respondents are confident that Timor-Leste’s accession will increase intra-regional trade and investment”.

Most Vietnamese respondents (70.0%) are optimistic that Timor-Leste’s accession will enhance ASEAN’s unity and centrality, well above the ASEAN average of 48.7%.

Only 15.8% disagree with Timor-Leste joining ASEAN, and 11.4% believe that nothing will change in ASEAN.

To carry out this survey, the ISEAS-Yusoh Ishak Institute surveyed a total of 1,308 people from ten Southeast Asian countries, including academics, researchers, representatives of the private and financial sector, representatives of civil society, non-governmental organisations and the media, government officials, and representatives of regional and international organisations.

The survey was conducted over eight weeks, from November 14^th, 2022, to January 6^th, 2023. Participants answered 54 topics related to regional geopolitics and the region's political, economic, and social situation.