Speaking at a press briefing in Jakarta on Wednesday, Kao said that based on the ASEAN Charter, the bloc has only 11 member countries.
"If we were to include the PNG (Papua New Guinea), two issues would need to be addressed. One, of course, is the consensus of the 11 countries. Second, the Mandate Charter," Kao said.
He, however, emphasized that all ASEAN member countries have the prerogative to raise the issue.
Related news: Prabowo backs Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea's ASEAN membership hope
At the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto proposed that Papua New Guinea join ASEAN, noting that the country has expressed an interest in becoming a member of the bloc.
Prabowo also welcomed the prospect of Timor-Leste joining the regional grouping as a full member soon.
Currently, ASEAN has 10 member countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Timor-Leste, which currently has observer status, is scheduled to become the 11th official member of ASEAN in October 2025.
Geographically, Papua New Guinea is included in the Pacific Islands region rather than Southeast Asia.
To become a member of ASEAN, a country must be geographically located in Southeast Asia, be recognized by all ASEAN member countries, comply with the ASEAN Charter, and fulfill its duties and obligations as a member of ASEAN.
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Translator: Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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