These achievements are often attributed to "the ASEAN way." Sun Guoxiang, a professor in the Department of International Studies at Nanhua University, says that "the ASEAN way" emphasizes equality in negotiations and the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of other member states. No distinctions are made between countries based on their size or strength, and no nation has been given a leadership role.
南華大學國際暨大陸事務系教授孫國祥解釋，「東協方式」強調平等協商、不干涉彼此內政，國家不分大小和國力強弱，沒有誰居主導地位，只有 10 國全部同意才會通過某項決議，這就是所謂的「共識決」。