ASEAN

Association of Southeast
Asian Nations

Dr. Manzoor A. Naazer

Email: mnaazer@gmail.com
¡

ASEAN Emblem ASEAN Flag

 ASEAN Basics

¡ Official Language : English

ASEAN Location: South East Asia

Secretariat: Jakarta (Indonesia)

Head of ASEAN secretariat : Secretary General

(Current Secretary General is Le Luong Minh,

former Deputy Foreign Minister of Vietnam

ASEAN Motto: One Vision, One Identity, One

Community
 ASEAN has 10 Member States
1. Brunei

2. Malaysia

3. Indonesia

4. Philippines

5. Singapore

6. Thailand

7. Myanmar (Burma)

8. Laos

9. Cambodia

10. Vietnam
ASEAN Map
 ASEAN Candidate States
1. Papua New Guinea

2. East Timor (Timor Liste)

 ASEAN + 3
¡ China
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¡ Japan
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¡ South Korea
¡ BACKGROUND
¡ In 1960s, the Southeast Asian states
were faced with various security
challenges, such as:
¡ Cold War and tension between East and
West
¡ Presence of US forces in Vietnam
¡ External Security Threat from China
(and Indonesia for smaller states).
¡
¡ Internal subversive activities by
communists (backed by China &
Indonesia)
¡ Separatist movements within member
states
¡ Challenges of socio-economic
development
¡
¡ PRELUDE TO ASEAN:
¡ The countries of Southeast Asia had been
very active to establish
intergovernmental organizations (IGOs)
since early 1950s.
¡ For instance, Indonesia among others was
pursuing proactive role in organizing
Afro-Asian conferences including
Bandung Conference and establishment
of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
¡ Besides, Southeast Asian countries were also
interested to create micro-regional IGOs,
operating only in Southeast Asia. Thus, they had
created the following IGOs:
¡ Association of Southeast Asia (ASA) comprising of The
Philippines, Thailand, the Federation of Malaya (Malaysia)
in 1961.
¡ Maphilindo comprising of Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia
in 1964.
¡ However, these organizations could not take off and were
buried soon.
¡

¡
 ESTABLISHMENT OF ASEAN:

¡ On August 8, 1967 leaders of the following 5

nations of Southeast Asia met in Bangkok,
Thailand and signed (Bangkok) declaration
according to which they established
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN):
¡ Indonesia
¡ Malaysia
¡ The Philippines,
¡ Singapore
¡ Thailand
¡
 ENLARGEMENT / EXPANSION:

¡ Later on, the organization was enlarged /

expanded with inclusion of the following
new members on the dates mentioned
against each:
¡ Brunei (1984)
¡ Vietnam (1995)
¡ Laos (1997)
¡ Myanmar (1997)
¡ Cambodia (1999)
¡
 Founding Fathers
¡ The following five foreign ministers are
considered ASEAN’s Founding Fathers:
¡ Adam Malik of Indonesia,
¡ Narciso Ramos of the Philippines,
¡ Abdul Razak of Malaysia,
¡ S. Rajaratnam of Singapore, and
¡ Thanat Khoman of Thailand
¡
 OBJECTIVES:

¡ ASEAN was created to pursue the

following objectives:

¡ To accelerate economic growth, social progress and

cultural development in the region in a spirit of
equality and partnership.
¡ To promote regional peace and stability through
abiding by the respect for justice and rule of law
and adherence to the UN Charter.
¡ To promote active collaboration and mutual
assistance in the field of economic, social, cultural,
technical, scientific and administrative field.
¡ To foster cooperation in training and research facilities
in education, professional, technical and
administrative spheres.
¡ To promote cooperation in the areas of agriculture,
industries and trade, improvement of transportation
and communication facilities, and raising the living
standard of the people of Southeast Asia.
¡ To promote South East Asian Studies.
¡ To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with
existing international (global and regional)
organizations.
¡
¡ The foreign minister of 5 original members of
ASEAN met in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on
November 27, 1971, and signed the
declaration on ASEAN's Zone of Peace,
Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN) which
had MILESTONES IN HISTORY
sought to make OFAsia
Southeast ASEAN
“free
from any form or manner of interference by
outside Powers.”
¡ They also pledged to “make concerted efforts
to broaden the areas of cooperation which
would contribute to their strength, solidarity
and closer relationship.”
 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation
¡ The leaders (heads of state / government) of regional
countries in the first ASEAN summit held at Bali,
Indonesia in 1976 signed the Treaty of Amity and
Cooperation (TAC) and adopted the following
principles for regional cooperation:
¡ Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality,
territorial integrity and national identities of all nations.
¡ The right of every state to lead its national existence free from
external interference, subversion and coercion.
¡ Non- interference in the internal affairs of one another.
¡ Settlement of differences of dispute by peaceful means.
¡ Renunciation of the threat or use of force and
¡ Effective cooperation among themselves.
¡
 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in
Southeast Asia
¡ On February 24, 1976, the treaty was signed by the leaders of the
original members of ASEAN. Other members acceded to it
upon or before joining the bloc.
¡ It was amended on December 15, 1987 by a protocol to open the
document for accession by states outside Southeast Asia, and
again on July 25, 1998, to condition such accession on the
consent of all member states.
¡ On July 23, 2001, the parties established the rules of procedure of
the treaty's High Council, which was stipulated in Article 14 of
the document. On October 7, 2003, during the annual summit,
a declaration was released that says:
¡ "A High Council of [the treaty] shall be the important component
in the ASEAN Security Community since it reflects ASEAN’s
commitment to resolve all differences, disputes and conflicts
peacefully."
¡ On December 15, 1995, ASEAN members met in
Bangkok, Thailand and signed the Southeast Asian
Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ)
or the Bangkok Treaty that came into force on
March 28, 1997.
¡ It provides that ASEAN members would not develop, manufacture
or otherwise acquire, possess or have control over nuclear
weapons.
¡ A protocol of this treaty required the five recognized nuclear
powers to commit to not contribute to any violation of the
treaty and not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons within
the zone. None of the five states, however, signed the
SEANWFZ protocol.
¡ In November 2011, they agreed with ASEAN states on steps that
would enable them to do so.
 ASEAN CHARTER
¡ Regional countries signed the ASEAN charter which
came into effect on December 15, 2008.
¡ It provides a new legal framework to ASEAN.
¡ The charter provides a firm foundation for achievement
of the goal of the ASEAN Community by providing it
a legal status and institutional framework.
¡ The Charter includes 55 articles and sets objectives,
principles, rules and values, target dates and all
institutional arrangements for the ASEAN Community
to be achieved by 2015.
 Salient Features of ASEAN charter:

¡ It emphasizes the centrality of ASEAN in regional

cooperation.
¡ Respect for the principles of territorial integrity,
sovereignty, non-interference and national identities
of ASEAN members.
¡ Promoting regional peace and identity, peaceful
settlements of disputes through dialogue and
consultation, and the renunciation of aggression.
¡ Upholding international law with respect to human
rights, social justice and multilateral trade.
¡ Encouraging regional integration of trade.
¡ Appointment of a Secretary-General and Permanent
Representatives of ASEAN.
¡ Establishment of a human rights body and an dispute resolution
mechanism, to be decided at ASEAN Summits.
¡ Development of friendly external relations and a
position with the UN (like the EU)
¡ Increasing the number of ASEAN summits to twice a
year and the ability to convene for emergency
situations.
¡ Reiterating the use of the ASEAN flag, anthem, emblem
and to celebrate ASEAN day on August 8.
¡ Respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity
of member states.
¡ Peaceful settlement of disputes.
¡ Non-interference in member states’ internal affairs.
¡ Right to live without external interference.
¡ The most distinctive feature of interaction among
its members has been the “ASEAN WAY.”
¡ It involved avoidance of legalistic procedures and
rather preference for adopting non–binding
resolutions etc.
¡ It involved informal consultations, discussions and
consensus building.
¡ If it were difficult to reach to consensus, the members
would agree to disagree.
¡ If a dispute or difference rose, the members used to set
it aside and they just focused on advancing
ASEAN WAY –
cooperation in other areas.
A DISTINCTIVE
¡ This wasFEATURE
recipe for OF ASEAN
conflict avoidance. (ASEAN SPIRIT)
 ASEAN CONTRIBUTION TO
REGIONAL PEACE AND
¡ In theSTABILITY
first 25 years of its existence, the
ASEAN members focused mainly on regional
peace and stability.
¡ The US withdrawal from Vietnam and
communist victory prompted the members
to hold first ever summit and sign a Treaty
of Amity and Cooperation.
¡ It made political cooperation a formal part of
ASEAN agenda and codified the rules of
conduct (principles).
¡
¡ In 1978, Vietnam invaded Cambodia and
ASEAN members were finally able to adopt
a unified stand on persuasion of / concerns
expressed by Thailand.
¡ Thus, ASEAN opposed Vietnamese action on
all forums as well as its puppet government
in Cambodia.
¡ After withdrawal of Vietnamese forces, ASEAN
also played its role in the peace process in
Cambodia.
¡
¡ In 1994, the ASEAN members created the ASEAN
REGIONAL FORUM (ARF) to promote multilateral
security dialogue with other states.
¡ Presently 27 countries are the members of ARF.
¡ In 1995, the Bangkok Treaty created the Southeast
Asian Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (SEANWFZ).
¡ They also initiated dialogue with several other
states known as their Dialogue Partners.
¡ They also initiated the EU-ASEAN dialogue process.
¡
 POLITICAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF
ASEAN
¡ Creation of ASEAN and its subsequent
performance helped achieved the following
ends.
¡ It provided psychological satisfaction and support for
members who no more needed to fear of isolation
and run for entering into a patron–client relationship
with the great powers.
¡ It helped build self confidence among member states to
assert their position as active players in world affairs.
¡ Even members like Brunei and Singapore were able to
get recognition and prominence in the world.
¡
¡ It served as a forum for members to coordinate their
external outlook and to adopt mature foreign
policies.
¡ It enabled members to become attuned with and
sensitive to each others’ interests and concerns.
¡ Thus, it led them to evolve shared / common / regional
interests.
¡ It created a sense of mutual understanding, trust,
predictability of behavour, confidence and good will
among members.
¡ It ensured to minimize intra – ASEAN conflicts.
¡ It helped establish the fundamental / ground rules of
peaceful co-existence within the region.
¡ ASEAN has also been able to resolve /
overcome different disputes concerning the
member states through mediation, e.g.
Sabah between Malaysia, Thailand and the
Philippines, 1n 1992, declaration on South
China Sea and ASEAN members’ signing of
an agreement with China.
¡
 ECONOMIC COOPERATION

¡ In order to ensure economic / industrial

development of all members and equitable
distribution of benefits of regional
cooperation, ASEAN had strived to create
economic complementarities and regional
economic interdependence through following
mechanisms / schemes, with varying results:

¡ ASEAN Industrial Joint Venture (AIJV)

¡ Brand–to–Brand Complementation (BBC). It was
replaced with ASEAN INDUSTRIAL COOPERATION
SCHEME (AICS) in which some of the BBC features
¡ After putting ASEAN on solid foundation, the regional
countries decided to move slowly and gradually towards
trade liberalization and market integration.
¡ To this end, they took the following steps:
¡ In 1989, ASEAN members signed the Manila Declaration
and agreed to work together to create an ASEAN Free
Trade Area (AFTA) in 15 years beginning with 1992.
¡ ASEAN member later agreed to fully implement AFTA in 10
years and they made it a reality on January 01, 2002.
¡ It provided that members’ all goods could move within the
TRADE
region at averageLIBERALIZATION
tariffs of 3.2% (i.e. 0.00 to AND
5.0 %).
¡

¡
MARKET INTEGRATION
¡ ASEAN members were the first among the developing
countries to adopt export led growth strategies and
their economic growth rate as well as intra–regional
trade stood quite impressive.
¡ Later on, they also made progress towards Trade in
Services and simplification of customs procedures.
¡ After financial crises of 1997, they have also
strengthened cooperation and coordination with
China, Japan and South Korea (ASEAN plus three)
¡ ASEAN members are also very active in APEC and East
Asian Economic Caucus.
¡ Besides, ASEAN members also cooperate with
Australia, Newzealand.
 ASEAN COMMUNITY

¡ In 1997, the ASEAN members agreed on an

ASIAN Vision 2020 which was aimed to create
ASEAN COMMUNITY, a concert of Southeast
Asian Nations.
¡ In 2007, members agreed to bring the target
date of creating ASEAN COMMUNITY forward.
¡ They set to achieve this milestone by 2015. It
would comprise of the following three pillars:
¡ ASEAN political and Security Community
¡ ASEAN Economic Community (a single or common market and
production Base) that would provide for free movement of
goods, services, investment, capital and skilled labor.
¡
¡ On October 7, 2003, during the 9th
ASEAN Summit in Bali, Indonesia, the
leaders of the members signed a
declaration known as the Bali Concord
II in which they agreed to pursue closer
economic integration by 2020.
¡
ASEAN Secretariat at Jakarta
(Indonesia)
 ASEAN + 3
¡ It’s a forum for coordination and cooperation
between ASEAN Members and China, Japan,
South Korea.
¡ The first meeting of theirs leaders was held in
1997 and the group's significance and
importance was strengthened by the Asian
Financial Crises.
¡ The grouping was institutionalized by 1999.
 ASEAN Summit
¡ It is an annual meeting of heads of States or Governments.
¡ According to ASEAN charter, now Summit takes place twice a year.
¡ ASEAN is connected with other countries who aim to participate on
the missions and visions of ASEAN.
¡ It conducts annual meetings with other countries in an organization
collectively known as the ASEAN dialogue partners and ASEAN +3
¡ The formal summits are held in 03 days as per following program:
¡ ASEAN leaders hold an internal organization meeting.
¡ ASEAN leaders hold a conference together with foreign ministers of
other 17 members of the ASEAN Regional Forum.
¡ Leaders of 3 ASEAN Dialogue Partners (also known as ASEAN+3)
namely China, Japan and South Korea hold a meeting with the
ASEAN leaders.
¡ And a separate meeting is set for leaders of 2 ASEAN Dialogue
Partners namely Australia and New Zealand.
¡
 ASEAN Issues

1. South Thailand Insurgency

2. Thailand Political and Democratic Crises

3. Myanmar Issue

4. East Timor Issue

5. Inter-state conflicts
 ASEAN Community
The process of ASEAN community building is a result of the
considerable change in the association’s mission in the recent
two decades. The end of the Cold War, the advance of
globalisation, the rise of China and India in economic size and
political influence as well as the Asian financial crisis have
forced ASEAN to shift from its original preventive diplomacy of
maintaining peace and harmony among its members and in the
region to the constructive diplomacy of community building to
cope with increasing political and economic competition in a
globalised world.
 ASEAN Community
¡ One of the most notable threats to ASEAN members is China,
whose robust economy is in direct competition with those
of its Southeast Asian neighbours, especially in trade and
foreign direct investment.
¡ Meanwhile, in recent years, the sleeping dragon has also
tried to enhance its economic and political influence and
presence in the region, particularly in Myanmar, Laos,
Vietnam and Cambodia.
¡ This important change has increasingly drawn ASEAN states,
which share the common fear of intrusive outside powers,
into the long-term strategic competition between the
United States and China in Asia Pacific.
¡

¡ In order to cope with China and avoid external

intervention, Southeast Asian countries feel
the need to act collectively and to lean on
each other, so that they can have combined
strengths as well as better bargaining power
in both economic and political issues.
¡ The same will work when dealing with other
regional communities such as the the
European Union and United States or with
international organizations such as the UNO
and the WTO.
 ASEAN FTA
¡ ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) is a trade bloc agreement by the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations supporting local
manufacturing in all ASEAN countries.
¡ The AFTA agreement was signed on 28 January 1992 in Singapore.
When the AFTA agreement was originally signed, ASEAN had six
members, namely, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines,
Singapore and Thailand. Vietnam joined in 1995, Laos and
Myanmar in 1997 and Cambodia in 1999. AFTA now comprises ten
countries of ASEAN. All the four latecomers were required to sign
the AFTA agreement in order to join ASEAN, but were given longer
time frames in which to meet AFTA's tariff reduction obligations.
¡ The primary goals of AFTA seek to:
Increase ASEAN's competitive edge as a production base in the
world market through the elimination, within ASEAN, of tariffs and
non-tariff barriers; and
¡ Attract more foreign direct investment to ASEAN
¡
 Other FTAs
¡ ASEAN – Australia – New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) was
signed on 27 February 2009 and became effective on 1 January
2010.
¡ ASEAN–China Free Trade Area (ACFTA), in effect as of 1 January
2010
¡ ASEAN–India Free Trade Area (AIFTA), in effect as of 1 January
2010
¡ ASEAN–Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP)
¡ ASEAN–Korea Free Trade Area (AKFTA), in effect as of 1 January
2010.
¡
 ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)
¡ The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is a formal, official, multilateral
dialogue in Asia Pacific region.
¡ Currently, it has 27 members / participants.
¡ ARF objectives are: a) to foster dialogue and consultation on
security and political issues, and, b) to promote confidence-
building and preventive diplomacy in the region.
¡ The ARF met for the first time in 1994.
¡ The current participants in the ARF are as follows: all the ASEAN
members, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, the People's Republic
of China, the European Union, India, Japan, North Korea, South
Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea,
Russia, East Timor, United States and Sri Lanka.
¡ The Republic of China (also known as Taiwan) has been excluded
since the establishment of the ARF.
¡ Issues regarding the Taiwan Strait are neither discussed at the
ARF meetings nor stated in the ARF Chairman's Statements.
 ASEAN other Meetings
¡ Aside from the ones above, other regular meetings are also
held. These include the annual ASEAN Ministerial Meeting as
well as other smaller committees. Meetings mostly focus on
specific topics, such as defence or the environment, and are
attended by Ministers, instead of heads of government.

¡ ASEAN Forein Ministers Meeting :

Held Annually.
ASEAN other Meetings
¡ Asia-Europe Meeting
¡ The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is an informal dialogue
process initiated in 1996 with the intention of
strengthening cooperation between the countries of
Europe and Asia, especially members of the European
Union and ASEAN in particular. ASEAN, represented
by its Secretariat, is one of the 45 ASEM partners. It
also appoints a representative to sit on the governing
board of Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), a socio-
cultural organisation associated with the Meeting.
¡ ASEAN-Russia Summit
¡ The ASEAN-Russia Summit is an annual meeting
between leaders of member states and the President
of Russia.
¡
ASEAN Cultural Activities

¡ The organisation hosts cultural activities in an

attempt to further integrate the region. These
include sports and educational activities as well
as writing awards. Examples of these include the
ASEAN University Network, the ASEAN Centre for
Biodiversity, the ASEAN Outstanding Scientist and
Technologist Award, and the Singapore-
sponsored ASEAN Scholarship.
ASEAN Billboard to Welcome Delegates
The End

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