China-ASEAN cooperation can play key role in haze prevention, management: think tank

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Worsening air quality has reached hazardous levels in Southeast Asia in recent weeks. Indonesia's Kalimantan and Sumatra regions have faced widespread forest and land fires this year, with haze disrupting flights, forcing school closures and causing hazardous air quality in parts of the country.

The transboundary haze problem in particular is a wide-ranging issue that affects public health, education, transport, and tourism across Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines, presenting a challenge that cannot be ignored and must be overcome, said Kat W. Wong, executive director and chief strategist at the Center for Advanced Studies and Research.

While existing regional frameworks, such as the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, have served as constructive platforms for dialogue and technical coordination, current mechanisms primarily focus on monitoring and response after fires occur rather than addressing root causes.

"The current approach, which focuses on monitoring and responding to haze once it occurs instead of preventing fires at the source, leaves out the crucial responsibility of every country to ensure peatland protection and restoration, stronger land-use management," she said.

According to her, closer coordination and cooperation between the ASEAN grouping and China could lay the groundwork for effective disaster prevention and management, particularly on regional haze.

"China's advanced capabilities in satellite remote sensing, weather forecasting, early-warning digital platforms, drones, and emergency equipment align directly with ASEAN's operational needs," she said.

Both sides "could further strengthen cooperation in disaster early warning, emergency response training and post-disaster reconstruction. This could include the exchange of meteorological and disaster-related data, the application of early-warning technologies and digital platforms, as well as joint training and emergency response exercises," said Wong.

This pragmatic cooperation will offset the continued disruption caused by climate events that have exacerbated conditions leading to regional forest fires and the resulting transboundary haze, and build long-term disaster resilience and environmental security, she told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Wong noted that practical steps have already been taken with the launch of the ASEAN-China Disaster Management Cooperation Project in April, which establishes a concrete channel for collaborative action while respecting ASEAN centrality. Joint training initiatives involving Malaysia and China have already significantly enhanced local disaster management and response capabilities.

"Disaster prevention and mitigation is an important area in which China and ASEAN can further deepen cooperation. It directly concerns the safety of people and property across the region and is closely linked to regional development and people's well-being," she said, adding that as extensive operations require significant funding, ASEAN must remain open to external assistance to ensure comprehensive, long-term environmental and regional security.