As of early 2014, who was serving as the Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)?

Introduction / Context:
This question falls under international organisations and leadership positions. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly known as ASEAN, is a regional grouping that promotes cooperation among its member states. Knowing who holds key posts such as Secretary General is a frequent requirement in competitive exams, especially for questions that refer to a particular time period.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The organisation is ASEAN.
• The time frame is around early 2014.
• We are asked to identify the person serving as Secretary General then.
• The options include several prominent political figures from Asia and beyond.

Concept / Approach:
The Secretary General of ASEAN is appointed for a fixed term and is usually a senior diplomat from one of the member states. From 2013 to 2017, the Secretary General was Le Luong Minh, a Vietnamese diplomat. Before him, Surin Pitsuwan from Thailand held the position. Ban Ki-moon was the Secretary General of the United Nations, not ASEAN. Nguyen Tan Dung was the Prime Minister of Vietnam, and Hun Sen is the Prime Minister of Cambodia.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the question is anchored around the year 2014. Step 2: Recall that Le Luong Minh began his term as ASEAN Secretary General in 2013. Step 3: Note that his term covers the year 2014, so he was in office at that time. Step 4: Remember that Surin Pitsuwan's term ended before 2013, so he is not the current Secretary General for that year. Step 5: Identify Ban Ki-moon as the head of the United Nations, which is a different organisation from ASEAN. Step 6: Recognise that Nguyen Tan Dung and Hun Sen are national leaders and not ASEAN Secretaries General. Step 7: Conclude that Le Luong Minh is the correct answer for the given time frame.

Verification / Alternative check:
Lists of ASEAN Secretaries General show that Le Luong Minh served from 2013 to 2017. Any reference to ASEAN meetings, summits or communiqués around 2014 will often name him as Secretary General. This matches the timing given in the question and clearly distinguishes him from earlier and later office holders. Therefore, the answer is confirmed as Le Luong Minh.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Surin Pitsuwan did serve as ASEAN Secretary General but his tenure ended before 2013, so he was not in office in 2014. Ban Ki-moon was Secretary General of the United Nations and never held the same role in ASEAN. Nguyen Tan Dung served as Prime Minister of Vietnam, a national position rather than a regional organisational post. Hun Sen is the long serving Prime Minister of Cambodia and not an ASEAN Secretary General.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse ASEAN with the United Nations or to think that any prominent Asian leader might hold the role. Another error is not paying attention to the time frame and selecting Surin Pitsuwan, who had already completed his term. Always check both the organisation and the relevant years when answering leadership based questions.

Final Answer:
As of early 2014, the Secretary General of ASEAN was Le Luong Minh.