The trip on July 6-8 paves the way for what is expected to be a swifter ratification process, which must be unanimous amongst the alliance’s ten members.

This was the second of the three fact finding missions. Previously, the ASEAN Political-Security Community fact-finding mission took place from 3-6 September 2019. The ASEAN Economic Community is planning to conduct its mission later in July this year.

Commentators close to ASEAN leaders, say the fact-finding mission is to accelerate Timor-Leste accession into the bloc, a task expected to be completed this year, according to Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Cambodia is the current chairman of ASEAN and the latest member of ASEAN.

Officials say Cambodia’s support for Timor-Leste to become another member shows it is working towards and putting in effort to achieve unity and inclusiveness in the region.

Timor-Leste used the trip to reaffirm its commitment to joining the group.

The accession of Timor-Leste to ASEAN is a process that started following the independence of the country in 2002

According to Article 6 of the ASEAN Charter, the section which outlines conditions of membership, there are four requirements: location in the recognised geographical region of Southeast Asia; recognition by all ASEAN member states; agreement to be bound and to abide by the Charter; and ability and willingness to carry out the obligations of membership

Insiders say the only major point of contention for Timor-Leste is that of “ability and willingness,” a vaguely defined standard to begin with.