ASEAN

(The Association of South-east Asian Nations)

ASEAN
Observers of ASEAN
 Conti…
• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
is a regional organization. It was set up in 1967 to
promote regional cooperation and integration.
• It comprises 10 Southeast Asian countries: Indonesia,
Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand,
Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Brunei.
• It promotes economic growth, social progress, and
cultural development in the region.
• It enhances regional peace and stability through
adherence to international law.
 Conti…
• ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) promotes free flow of goods
within the region. Other initiatives like the Regional
Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) expand trade
ties with other Asian economies.
• ASEAN promotes peaceful settlement of disputes and fosters
regional security through forums like the ASEAN Regional
Forum (ARF) involving dialogue partners like India, US, and
China.
• India enjoys strong ties with ASEAN, with a strategic
partnership focused on economic cooperation, security
collaboration, and cultural exchange.
 Members of ASEAN
• Thailand (founding member)
• The Philippines (founding member)
• Malaysia (founding member)
• Singapore (founding member)
• Indonesia (founding member)
• Brunei (joined in 1984)
• Vietnam (joined in 1995)
• Lao PDR (joined in 1997)
• Myanmar (joined in 1997)
• Cambodia (joined in 1999)
Members along with Observers
 History & Evolution of ASEAN
• 1967 – ASEAN was established with the signing of the
ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by its
founding members.
• Founding members of ASEAN are: Indonesia,
Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
• 1990s – Membership doubled after the changing
conditions in the region following the end of the
Vietnam War in 1975 and the Cold War in 1991.
• Addition of Brunei (1984), Vietnam (1995), Laos and
Myanmar (1997), and Cambodia (1999).
 Conti…
• 1995: Members signed a deal to create a nuclear-free zone in
Southeast Asia.
• 1997: Adoption of ASEAN Vision 2020.
• 2003: Bali Concord II for the establishment of an ASEAN
Community.
• 2007: Cebu Declaration, to accelerate the establishment of ASEAN
Community by 2015.
• 2008: ASEAN Charter comes into force and becomes a legally binding
agreement.
• 2015: Launch of ASEAN Community.
• ASEAN Community is comprised of three pillars:
• ASEAN Political-Security Community
• ASEAN Economic Community
• ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community
 The Fundamental Principles of ASEAN
• The ASEAN fundamental principles, as contained in the
Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) of
1976
• Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty,
equality, territorial integrity, and national identity of all
nations.
• The right of every State to lead its national existence free
from external interference, subversion or coercion.
• Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another.
• Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner.
• Renunciation of the threat or use of force.
• Effective cooperation among themselves.
 The Objectives of ASEAN
• To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural
development for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast
Asian Nations.
• To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for
justice and the rule of law and adherence to the principles of the United
Nations Charter.
• To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of
common interest in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific
and administrative fields.
• To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilization of agriculture
and industries, the expansion of their trade, the improvement of
transportation and communications facilities and the raising of the living
standards of peoples.
• To promote Southeast Asian studies.
• To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international
and regional organizations.
 The Institutional Mechanism of ASEAN
• Chairmanship: Chairmanship of ASEAN rotates
annually, based on the alphabetical order of the English
names of Member States.
• ASEAN Summit: The ASEAN Summit is the highest
decision-making body of ASEAN. It is attended by the
heads of state or government of member countries. The
summit provides a platform for leaders to discuss and
make decisions on regional and international issues.
• ASEAN Ministerial Meetings: These are regular
meetings of foreign ministers from ASEAN member
countries. The meetings serve as a forum for dialogue and
coordination on various political, economic, and social
issues.
 Conti…
• ASEAN Secretariat: The ASEAN Secretariat is based in Jakarta,
Indonesia. It serves as the central administrative body of ASEAN. It
supports the implementation of ASEAN decisions, facilitates
communication among member countries, and coordinates activities
related to ASEAN's work.
• ASEAN Coordinating Council: The ASEAN Coordinating Council
comprises foreign ministers from member countries.
• ASEAN Community Councils: ASEAN has three community
councils that cover different dimensions of cooperation:
• ASEAN Political-Security Community Council
• ASEAN Economic Community Council
• ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council
• ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies: These bodies cover various
sectors and facilitate cooperation in specific areas.
• Decision Making: The primary mode of decision-making in ASEAN
is consultation and consensus.
 Forums led by ASEAN
• ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF): The ARF is the primary
security dialogue forum in the Asia-Pacific region. It consists
of 27 participants. This includes ASEAN member countries,
major powers, and other regional countries. The ARF aims to
promote dialogue and cooperation on political and security
issues, confidence-building measures, and preventive
diplomacy.
• East Asia Summit (EAS): The EAS is a forum for leaders
from ASEAN member countries and its eight dialogue partners,
namely Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South
Korea, Russia, and the United States. The EAS focuses on
strategic and economic issues and aims to promote peace,
stability, and economic integration in the region.
 Conti…
• ASEAN Plus Three (APT): APT includes ASEAN member
countries, China, Japan, and South Korea. It aims to enhance
regional economic cooperation, financial stability, and people-
to-people exchanges. APT has resulted in various initiatives.
This includes the Chiang Mai Initiative for financial cooperation
and the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve.
• ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Meeting:
The ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN and its eight
Dialogue Partners to strengthen security and defence
cooperation for peace, stability, and development in the region.
• The ADMM-Plus countries include ten ASEAN Member States
and eight Plus countries, namely Australia, China, India, Japan,
New Zealand, ROK, Russian Federation, and the United States.
• The first ADMM-Plus was convened at Ha Noi, Vietnam in
2010.
 Major Strengths of ASEAN
• ASEAN has successfully fostered economic integration
through initiatives like the ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC).
• ASEAN has played a crucial role in maintaining peace
and stability in the Southeast Asian region. ASEAN
promotes dialogue, confidence-building, and conflict
resolution among member countries. This is done
through mechanisms like the Treaty of Amity and
Cooperation (TAC) and the ASEAN Regional Forum
(ARF).
 Conti…
• ASEAN provides a platform for dialogue and
engagement among member countries and external
powers.
• ASEAN's principle of non-interference and consensus
decision-making has contributed to political cohesion
and cooperation among member countries.
• ASEAN's diverse cultural heritage fosters people-to-
people exchanges, cultural cooperation, and mutual
understanding among member nations.
 Issues associated with ASEAN
• Many regional efforts could not be implemented within
national strategies due to budgetary restrictions,
particularly in the less developed nations.
• The disparity between affluent and underprivileged
ASEAN member nations continues to remain wide, and
they have an inconsistent track record when it comes to
wealth disparity.
• Incapability to reach a consensus on how to deal with
China, especially in light of its extensive maritime
assertions in the South China Sea made by China.
 Conti…
• The biggest problem revealing the organization’s
disunity is the South China Sea.
• ASEAN has been split on significant human rights
concerns.
• There is no centralized enforcement system in place.
• Dispute-resolution mechanisms that are ineffective,
either in the commercial or political arenas.
• The reliance on agreement might have the unintended
consequence of avoiding rather than confronting
challenging challenges.
 Significance of ASEAN for India
• Trade and Economic Cooperation: ASEAN is one of India’s largest
trading partners. India is also a significant trading partner for
ASEAN. The ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA) has
facilitated trade liberalization and the growth of bilateral trade.
• Act East Policy: ASEAN is a key component of India’s “Act East”
policy, which aims to enhance strategic, economic, and cultural ties
with Southeast Asian nations. Deepening engagement with ASEAN
helps India strengthen its presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Regional Connectivity: ASEAN plays a vital role in regional
connectivity initiatives. Projects like the India-Myanmar-Thailand
Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport
Project connect India with Southeast Asia.
 Conti…
• Security Cooperation: ASEAN provides a platform for India
to engage with East Asian countries on security issues.
Cooperation in areas like counter-terrorism, maritime
security, and disaster management enhances regional security
and stability.
• People-to-People Exchanges: ASEAN promotes cultural
exchanges and tourism between member countries. This
strengthens people-to-people ties, fosters mutual
understanding, and enhances cultural cooperation between
India and ASEAN nations.