Introduction

ESTABLISHMENT & MEMBERSHIP

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)

was founded in August 8, 1967 by Singapore, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand with the signing of the
ASEAN Declaration in Bangkok.

Brunei joined in 1984, Vietnam1995, Laos &

Myanmar1997, & Cambodia 1999
ASEAN expanded over the years making up the ten
member states of ASEAN today
ASEAN COUNTRIES
 ASEAN Objectives
 To accelerate Economic growth, Social progress & Cultural
development in the region.
 To promote:
--Regional peace and stability,
--Southeast Asian studies
--Active collaboration & mutual assistance on matters of common interest
in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative
fields.
 To provide assistance to each other in the form of training& research
facilities in the educational, professional, technical & admin spheres
 To collaborate more effectively for greater utilization of their agriculture
& industries, expansion of trade, improvement of their transportation &
communications facilities & raising of the living standards of their
peoples
 To maintain close & beneficial cooperation with existing international
& regional organizations
 ASEAN objectives and working principles have remained unchanged
"ASEAN way" of informal networking --creating a cohesive, peaceful
& economically successful ASEAN bloc with stability, security &
prosperity

“ASEAN will sit at the heart of the world’s political and economic centre
within our lifetimes” (Prof. Danny Quah, Director of Southeast Asia Centre, London School of
Economics)

(1) Power-Balancing Role of US in Southeast Asia (SEA)

 The strategic presence of US in SEA has not prevented US's allies and
partners in the region from conflicts and threats. Eg., high incident rate
of piracy activities in the Malacca straits, Singapore straits and South
China Sea.
No security to the states in Southeast Asia from the attack by terrorist
groups. Thailand, Philippines & Indonesia had all fallen victim to terrorist
bombing, not once, but on several occasions. The attacks might even be
triggered by the close ties between US and the states in SEA.

The third Indochina War was officially brought to a close with the
October 1991 agreements at the Paris Conference (PICC).
(2) Impetus for the Founding of ASEAN

 Nation Building
Most SEA states attained political independence after centuries of foreign
domination & colonization after the end of World War II. As such, nation
building was the primary focus of ASEAN during its early years of formation.

• Forming a regional organisation

This could fill the power vacuum left by the major powers, which used the
region for wars and major power rivalry.

 Focus on development

ASEAN provided a platform for the newly independent states to concentrate

in their nation building & economic development.

 ASEAN was thus formed to create peaceful & stable environment for
nation building & growth amongst the SEA states.
 Background formation
 During the 1960era there was war against Communism & Communist threat
spreading across SEA. Economic growth a means to prevent the spread of
communism

 The Malaysia-Indonesia Confrontation (“Konfrontasi”) was prevalent among the

member states. In 1966 with Suharto's replacement of Sukarno as Indonesia's
President, this spells the end of Sukarno regime and the end of "Konfrontasi“,
but the beginning of Suharto's "New Order" regime and "Good Neighbour"
policy.

In order to achieve peace and stability in the region, it was important to first
restore confidence and reassure Southeast Asia of Indonesia's peaceful
intentions.

ASEAN was formed under the principle of non-interference in each others'

domestic affairs to create a tolerant environment for members to engage
without suspicion and doubts.
 ASEAN was formed with the objectives to promote regional peace and
stability, co-operation, economic development, & generating social &
cultural progress.

ASEAN's Achievements

 It has been four decades since ASEAN was founded. The achievements of
ASEAN cannot be downplayed, for the fact that ASEAN is the one and
only permanent regional association in Asia.

Stability of Southeast Asia

 ASEAN had provided the framework for regional stability. The "ASEAN
Way" of doing things. The specific features of "ASEAN Way" are:
informal process of interaction, informality, quiet diplomacy, dialogue and
consultation, self-restraint, flexible consensus, conflict avoidance.
 Respect of each other's National
sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-
use of force etc. - standard Int'l
Relations principles based on
process-orientated & network-based
model of co-operation

 The Treaty of Amity and Co-operation

in Southeast Asia (TAC) was signed by
the member states of ASEAN in Feb
1976. The purpose of this Treaty is to
promote perpetual peace, amity and
co-operation among their peoples for
closer relationship. In 2004, four more
countries acceded to the treaty: Japan,
Pakistan, Republic of Korea and
Russia.

 The ASEAN Social and Cultural

Community (ASCC) was formed to
achieve a "socially cohesive and caring
ASEAN“ to foster co-operation in
addressing social & cultural problems
associated with rural poverty,
population growth, unemployment,
human resources development,
education, environment, and health.
 E.g. of the level of co-operation among member states:
The incident of SARs outbreak in Asia. ASEAN has been proactive in
seeking to contain infectious diseases. In Apr 2003: the ASEAN heads of
government mandated a comprehensive regional response to the threat
posed by the disease especially the impact to the economies.

 E.g. Singapore-Malaysia dispute over Pedra Branca islands.

Both countries laid claim to the Pedra Branca islands although Singapore
had been the custodian of the Horsburg Lighthouse situated on the island
throughout the last century. The dispute could not be resolved within
ASEAN; however, both Singapore & Malaysia had agreed to bring it to the
International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2007. This dispute came to an end
with the ICJ ruling sovereignty of Pedra Branca to Singapore and that of
Middle Rocks to Malaysia. (China’s power in controlling the Singapore
Strait?)
 ASEAN also manage to resolve the Cambodian crisis during the
1980s thru the ASEAN-Post Ministerial Conference (ASEAN-PMC)
which assumed its current form when the US, Canada and Japan
joined in 1978.

(3) Security of Southeast Asia

 The Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN)declaration

was signed in 1971 by the Foreign Ministers of the ASEAN member
states (Indonesia,Malaysia, thePhilippines,Singapore &Thailand). In
the declaration, the parties publicly stated their intent to keep South
East Asia"free from any form or manner of interference by outside
Powers" and "broaden the areas of co-operation".
 The ASEAN Regional Forum was formed in 1994
with the objective of promoting peace and security
through dialogue and co-operation in the Asia
Pacific.

 The Southeast AsianNuclear-Weapon-Free

ZoneTreaty(SEANWFZ) of 1995, or Bangkok
Treaty, is a nuclear weapons moratorium treaty
between 10 Asian member-states under the
auspices of the ASEAN.

 Vietnam has joined ASEAN in 1995 and the ARF,

and the long overdue normalization of relations
between the US and Vietnam has finally
happened, under the influence of ASEAN.
 The Vientiane Action Programme (VAP) adopted at the 10th ASEAN
Summit contained several measures to guide ASEAN's effort in
countering terrorism from 2005 - 2010. These measures form the
preparatory steps to the establishment of an ASEAN Extradition Treaty
as envisaged by the ASEAN Security Community (ASC) Plan of Action.

(4) Prosperity of Southeast Asia

 One of the main objectives of ASEAN is to improve economic

development. ASEAN has since negotiated for Free-Trade Agreements
(FTA) with various dialogue partners of ASEAN. The FTAs were
established with Australia & New Zealand, China, India, Japan and
Republic of Korea.
 Since 2000, European Commission and ASEAN are already discussing
trade and investment issues at Ministerial (EC-ASEAN Economic
Ministers) and official (Senior Economic Official Meeting) levels.

The key challenge is to promote region-to-region economic relations The

Trans-Regional EU-ASEAN Trade Initiative (TREATI) is a framework
for dialogue and regulatory co-operation developed to enhance EU trade
relations with ASEAN. Study for an EU- ASEAN FTA was then initialed
in 2005 and making good progress.

 In 2006, EU-ASEAN trade represented 5% of total world trade. The EU

is ASEAN's 2nd largest trading partner, accounting for 11.7% of ASEAN
trade (2006)
 Significantly, 13% of ASEAN exports are for the
EU, which makes it ASEAN's 2nd largest export
market after the US. ASEAN as an entity
represents the EU's 5th largest major trading
partner, accounting to 127 billion EUR, just
ahead of Norway and equivalent to Japan.
ASEAN's trade with the EU has been growing
steadily over the past five years, with an average
annual growth rate of 4%.

 On average, EU companies have invested 5.1

billion EUR a year for the period 2003 to 2005.
EU is thus by far the largest investor in ASEAN
countries: 27% of total FDI inflows from 2001 to
2005 come from the EU, compared to 15% for
the US.
 Conclusion
 ASEAN was formed during the era of inter-state
distrust and the uprising of communism. ASEAN
was thus established with the objectives of
promoting regional peace, stability and economic
progress to facilitate nation building among
member states. The working principles, the
"ASEAN Way" of non-interference, informal
understanding and consensus building have been
effectual in attaining the objectives of ASEAN.

 The introduction of new member states including

Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, had fulfill the
dream of including all the countries in Southeast
Asia into ASEAN.
 Over the last four decades, ASEAN have certainly
achieved plentiful in all areas of stability, security and
prosperity of Southeast Asia.

 The "ASEAN Way" has been successful in promoting

regional co-operation and economic development.

 The nations of Southeast Asia were able to leave their

historic rivalries behind them in the name of ASEAN
unity.

 They have also taken the lead to create the ASEAN

Regional Forum to engage all their Asia-Pacific
neighbours, to discuss on wide-ranging Asian security
issues.

 The Prime Minister of the Laos People's Democratic

Republic, Mr Bounnhang Vorachith, 29 Nov 2004,
said, "The role of ASEAN has been increasingly
recognised in ensuring peace and security in the Asia-
Pacific region, through the ASEAN Regional Forum,
with ASEAN as the primary driving force."
 ASEAN have proven its commitment and achievements through all the
ministerial meetings, Communities and forums that it is still relevance to
the stability, security and prosperity of Southeast Asia.

 The fact that EU and the Asia-Pacific states are willing to co-operate
with ASEAN; is a testimonial and recognition of ASEAN's
achievements. It is not merely an "adjunct" or supplement to the power-
balancing role played by the United States.

 The role of ASEAN is indeed central to the region's well being.

Thank you