ASEAN and Asian Regionalism: Institutional Networks Huong Le Thu le2huong@gmail.com Presentation for the NATSEM, UC Canberra 21 March 2013
Outline I. ASEAN s origin and development Phases of ASEAN s enlargement ASEAN Way Transformations The ASEAN Community II. ASEAN in Asian regionalism processes ASEAN as the driver of regional processes ASEAN and East Asia Summit Challenges for ASEAN Centrality III. Discussion
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
The establishment 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) Founding Fathers of ASEAN: 5 Foreign Ministers - Adam Malik (Indonesia), Narciso R. Ramos ( the Philippines), Tun Abdul Razak (Malaysia), S. Rajaratnam (Singapore) and Thanat Khoman (Thailand)
ASEAN at glance
Phases of development Phase Formative phase: 1967-1977 Conflict with the Indochinese states: 1977-1987 Peaceful expansion and the economic crisis: 1988-1997 Recovery and transition: 1998-2007 The Community building: 2008- Characteristics The Cold War context; Zone of Peace Freedom and Neutrality Declaration (ZOPFAN) 1971; The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) 1976; Vietnam-Cambodia conflict; Strengthening solidarity among the members; ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF); ASEAN enlargement : Vietnam admission in 1995 and Laos and Myanmar joining in 1997; The Asian financial crisis; Recovery from the Asian financial crisis; Bali Concorde II in October 2003; The ASEAN Charter; ASEAN Intergovernmental Committee on Human Rights (AICHR); Three-pillar Community;
Key documents ZOPFAN 1971 Bangkok Declaration 1967 TAC 1976 ASEAN Way
Non-interference from TAC to the Charter 1. Refraining from criticising the actions of a member government towards its own people, including the violation of human rights, and from making the domestic political system of states and the political styles 2. Criticising the actions of states which were deemed to have breached the non-interference principle 3. Denying recognition, sanctuary or other forms of support to any rebel group seeking to overthrow the neighbouring state government 4. Providing political support and material assistance to member states in their campaign against subversive and destabilising activities
The Charter The Charter brought in new directions for ASEAN development Gave the Association a legal personality Declared parallel building of the 3 communities Created ASEAN Community Councils Reconfirmed consultation, consensus and peaceful settlement of disputes Brought up the compliance issue the new role of the Secretariat Established the ASEAN Human Rights Body
ASEAN External relations 11
A rising regional personality Today, ASEAN is not only a well-functioning, indispensable reality in the region. It is a real force to be reckoned with far beyond the region. It is also a trusted partner of the United Nations in the field of development Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations, 16 February 2000
The world of regions
Cambodia Canada Australia Brunei Darussalam China DPRK Vietnam European Union United States India Thailand Singapore ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Indonesia Japan Russia Laos Rep. of Korea Mongolia Philippines Papua New Guinea New Zealand Myanmar Malaysia 15
ASEAN s extensions ASEAN China Japan S. Korea ASEAN + 3
ASEAN s extensions ASEAN China Japan S. Korea India Australia New Zealand ASEAN + 6 East Asia Summit
ASEAN s extensions ASEAN China Japan S. Korea India Australia New Zealand U.S.A. Russia ASEAN + 8
ASEAN s extensions ASEAN China Japan S. Korea ASEAN + 3 ASEAN China Japan S. Korea India Australia New Zealand ASEAN + 6 East Asia Summit ASEAN China Japan S. Korea India Australia New Zealand U.S.A. Russia ASEAN + 8
Chronological evolution of multilateral institutions in the region ASEAN APEC ARF ASEM SCO APT EAS TPP
ASEAN and EAS East Asia Summit came into life as an initiative of APT EAS is a forum for broad strategic, political, economic issues and promoting peace and stability and economic prosperity in East Asia EAS is to promote community building in consistency with the ASEAN Community EAS is to strengthen norms that are recognized values with ASEAN as the driving force Participation in the EAS is based on the criteria for participation established by ASEAN EAS is hosted by ASEAN Member country, assumes ASEAN Chairmanship and held back-to-back with annual ASEAN Summit
ASEAN centrality? ASEAN APT EAS
C like challenges CENTRALITY Central in the regional architecture; in the driving seat COMMUNITY Community-building is an on-going process; beyond 2015 CONNECTIVITY Connectivity among ASEAN countries CREDIBILITY Credible to the peoples and the world COLLECTIVE ACTION National interests vs. collective interests COMPETITION Competing with other regional processes Internally competitive over markets, investments, resources
Regional identity a developing concept One Vision, One Community, One Identity
The alphabet soup ASEAN EAS APT ARF ADMM SOM TPP AANZFTA APSC AEC ASCS APMM AHA AICHR CMM TAC ZOPFAN
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