ASEAN, a perspective with dialogue, on a trodden path

GS-II | International Relation


Why in the news?

The 56th Foreign Ministers Meeting(FMM) of the ASEAN was held in mid-July 2023 with Indonesia occupying the Chair position.

ASEAN- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations

1.     Established in 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration)

2.  Founding Fathers of ASEAN - Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.It functions as an intergovernmental organization of 10 Southeast Asian countries - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

3.      The regional group has a total population of 662 million people and a combined GDP of $3.2 trillion.

4.    The grouping is headed by a Chair, whose position rotates annually among member states and a secretariat based in Jakarta, Indonesia assists the chair.

5.      Decisions are taken by consensus, noninterference in internal affairs and peaceful resolution of conflicts.


Vision of ASEAN:

The Vision of ASEAN is enshrined in the ASEAN Charter, a constitutional document adopted in 2007 that gave legal recognition and Institutional framework to the regional grouping.

1.     Creating a political community that secures regional peace and a just, democratic and harmonious environment.

2.     An Economic environment that ensures well-integrated and connected regional economies within the global economic system.

3.      A socio-cultural community that ensures sustainable development of the region and enhances the standard of living of ASEAN's citizens.


Challenges in the face of ASEAN:

1.     Difficulty in adhering to ASEAN Charter to maintain its credibility

a)     'ASEAN’s rules-based regimes ' principle gets defied when a "Code of Conduct" between ASEAN &China has not been concluded yet.

·         Countries like the Philippines are increasing their military strategic partnership with the US to combat China's assertiveness in the South China Sea, but China wants a COC without the interference of the USA.

2.    The principles of consensus-based decision making and non-interference in internal affairs are becoming problematic.

a.      With Myanmar being barred from attending any political level discussions at the ASEAN, it has made it impossible to decide upon key policy issues by consensus.

b.      ASEAN has no option to formulate effective plans to restore civilian government in the Military-run Myanmar government because of its non-interference principle.

c.       Thailand, defying ASEAN's official policy held a meeting with the military govt. of Myanmar - indicating diverging priorities among member states.

3.     Actual implementation of ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-pacific (AOIP) is meager.

a.      AOIP's goal is to strengthen "the principle of ASEAN centrality".

b.      But it does not contain any concrete actions or mechanism against the US, China, or other major powers from interfering in its regional affairs.


 

ASEAN- Significance for India:

1.      Strong and united ASEAN in the Indo-pacific shall ensure regional security and peace for all.

2.      ASEAN is a key pillar of India's foreign policy and the foundation of Act East Policy.

3.      The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), security dialogue forum has enabled India and ASEAN to cooperate and coordinate on key security issues - rising export of terror, growing radicalization through ideology of hatred, and spread of extreme violence.

4.      ASEAN being India's fourth largest trading partner.

5.      Connectivity between India-ASEAN countries.

a.      India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway

b.      The Kaladan Multi modal Project.

Potential lies in transforming the corridors of connectivity into economic corridors.

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