XI.

ASEA: Building Regional Cooperation (Everything) Timeline

Is regional cooperation in SEA possible?
Impossible because of diversity (analysts) but was proven to be wrong
ASEAN is just for regional cooperation because it does not have its own regional government that possesses imposing
powers like UN and EU.
SEA has became the platform/framework of regional cooperation
1967 Bangkok Declaration 5MSs formed the ASEAN
Purpose accelerate economic growth (main purpose)
Diplomatic efforts of Thailand

- (1975)lately ended the Vietnam War (driving force for the ASEAN heads to meet)
posed challenges for the ASEAN
-contain the communist threat (insurgencies)
-region that must be free from major powers
-ASEAN was formed not by military alliance

-1976 when the heads of the governments first met First Summit of HoGs (in Bali)
Treaty of Amity and Cooperation
(1) non-interference
(2) Settlement of disputes by peaceful means
(3) The development of a regional identity
(4) Cooperation in regional economic and social development
*to persuade communists states to join ASEAN (1)
-1977 reinforce 1976
dialogues with other countries outside SEA
strong economic growth due to the arrival of foreign investments
Japan, China, USA the latter two gave huge foreign direct investments
because they wanted to compete against Japans contribution

Original members (ASEAN 4 + Singapore) Thailand, Indonesia,Philippines, Malaysia

Cambodian Crisis -1978 Vietnam invaded Cambodia
- threat to ASEAN security, direct threat to the borders of neighboring
member states
-fear of Chinas intervention paving the way for Chinas influence into SEA
that could also validate the interference of other major powers like US
-violation of non-interference (member states should be seen as equal states)
it is harder to realize the principles of other neighboring countries violate ASEANs
principles
-splitting ASEAN into two those who wanted harsh actions against Vietnam and those who did
not
Solution
-international isolation of Vietnam ( countries cut their trades lagging economic
growth)
-consulted UN who at that time was interested to suppress
communist insurgency

1984 Brunei joined

1986 Vietnams actions strengthened regional cooperation (original members)
continued Regional cooperation
1989 - established APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) first forum in Australia
economies along the pacific rim
SEA divided some wanted to join others did not
A possibility that ASEAN would be overshadowed for the fear that big powers
would again influence SEA, SEA might lose its power
*solution. Every two years the host during APEC changes; hosts had
significant power because they were the APEC leaders who made policies
*During these time, assertion of SEA interest was very strong
1991 AFTA (ASEAN Free Trade Agreement) PM of Thailand proposed ASEAN free trade
areas
Even their were present FTAs with other countries but it was observed that their
was no definite framework on economic growth
PM ensured the success in economic growth thereby creating AFTA
Decrease tariff, and increased in investments
1995 Vietnam
1996 ASEAN. +3. China, Japan, S. Korea
ASEAN countries, although their economies grew economically because of accepting investments, was
observed that they cannot handle economic crises thats why they had negotiations with China, Japan and S.Korea
in dealing with economic problems
Gist if ever there is a threat to the depletion of currency, there is a reserve from the +3 countries
through bilateral agreements
New security challenge terrorism (strengthened regional cooperation but did not stop the influence of
strong states because they are the major proponents of anti-terrorism) - threat to economic growth
Hunted and arrested renowned terrorists
e.g Bali Bombings
1997 Laos and Burma
1999 - Cambodia

Contribution of ASEAN during the early years

(1) Provided a framework for negotiations over regional conflicts
(2) Members found that their bargaining power in economic negotiations in international forums and
with their countries was enhanced by collectively working through ASEAN
(3) Members agreed in 1971 Kuala Lumpur Declaration Set out to secure the recognition of, and
respect for SEA as a zone of peace freedom and neutral free from any form or manner of interference
from outside powers

expectations were very low

-before that, only foreign ministers meet to talk about issues but not really
make policies

ASEAN Way
(1) ASEAN members value their sovereignty and have worked hard to ensure not only that they are free
from great-power inference, but also that they refrain from interfering in their neighbors internal
affairs.
a. Power in SEA is different from the western concept (non-interference is power in SEA)
i. Western Power they make other actors do what they do not want to do
ii. SEA power resistance from letting them do what they do not want to do (non-
interference)
(2) ASEAN states emphasize consultation and consensus
a. Every action must firstly consulted and agreed by member states before acting upon it
b. Encouraging. Multilateral talks. To. Minimize Chinese influence during bilateral talks
(3) ASEAN members operate on the basis of the primacy of political pragmatism and on the agreement
to not resort to the use of force in regional and international relations

Challenges posed after new member states joined (fuller democratic states)
- Fuller democracies (member states) pursued human rights violating the non-
interference principle which created a nuisance since in the first place other states
joined ASEAN because of non-interference
- Bending of non-interference
Monitor member states
Preventing impending crises