Appreciating, understanding the ASEAN concept<\/p>\n
S. Pushpanathan, Assistant Director, External Relations
\nASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Since the financial crisis of 1997 and the Sept. 11 attacks of
\n2001 in the United States, ASEAN's relevance has been put under
\nthe microscope.<\/p>\n
The Bali bombing last October and the SARS outbreak early this
\nMarch further dented the image of ASEAN and questioned its resolve
\nto tackle the new challenges of terrorism and emerging communicable
\ndiseases. Now, the Jakarta bombing of Aug. 5 has raised the question
\nas to how ASEAN would be tackling the terrorism problem at the
\nregional level.<\/p>\n
ASEAN has done considerably well to deal with the problems at
\nhand. The financial crisis is by and large over with some
\nlingering after-effect on the ASEAN economies. Most ASEAN
\neconomies have started to pick up gradually after the crisis and
\nare expected to achieve a growth of at least 4 percent this year.<\/p>\n
The Bali bombing brought ASEAN even closer together to fight
\nterrorism as a region together with its partners such as China,
\nJapan, the European Union, the U.S. and Russia. A trilateral
\nagreement was adopted by Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines
\nin 2002 to ensure border security with other member countries
\ngradually becoming parties to the agreement. An ASEAN work plan
\non terrorism has been launched and activities have been lined-up
\nfor implementation this year.<\/p>\n
While we can provide justification for and against the
\nviability of ASEAN as the association celebrates its 36th
\nanniversary on Friday, it would be important first to appreciate
\nand understand what ASEAN is all about.<\/p>\n
The association is not a supranational organization where the
\nASEAN Secretariat has the mandate and legal instruments to direct
\nmember countries and regional policies. It is an organization
\nthat is very much led and paced by the member countries with the
\nSecretariat playing a coordinating and catalyst role.<\/p>\n
ASEAN cooperation is premised on political commitments even
\nthough the grouping has, in recent years, adopted a number of
\nbinding agreements. It subscribes to the fundamental principles
\nof non-interference and respect for sovereignty and territorial
\nintegrity of member countries, with consensus building playing an
\nimportant part in decision-making. This has been the key to
\nASEAN's success in the last three decades.<\/p>\n
Many a time, the consensus process has been cited as a major
\nobstacle slowing down ASEAN. However, it is important to see the
\nmerits of such a process -- all agreements based on consensus
\nwill have a binding effect on the member countries and there will
\nbe commitment to move cooperation. Schemes, accords and
\ninitiatives of the grouping such as the ASEAN Free Trade Area
\n(AFTA), the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty, and
\nthe Initiative for ASEAN Integration were results of political
\ncommitment to see a peaceful, prosperous and integrated Southeast
\nAsia.<\/p>\n
The inability to address the financial crisis swiftly is often
\nhighlighted as one of the major failures of ASEAN, along with
\nfighting terrorism. True, ASEAN could have done more and at a
\nmore accelerated pace to tackle the crisis on hindsight but it
\ndoes not mean that ASEAN did nothing. Besides, bilateral
\nassistance, the member countries established the economic
\nsurveillance mechanism to better anticipate any recurrence of a
\nsimilar crisis.<\/p>\n
ASEAN is now linking up closely with the economies of the
\nU.S., EU, China, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Free
\nTrade Areas are being forged with many of these partners with
\nChina and India taking the lead. A number of swap arrangements
\nhave been secured within ASEAN and between ASEAN and the East
\nAsia Countries and an Asian Bond Market is in the offing which
\nwould further ensure macroeconomic and financial stability in the
\nregion.<\/p>\n
ASEAN has taken steps to speed up AFTA and is looking at what
\nthe region should be focusing on beyond AFTA. It is also working
\non making the region a more attractive destination for
\ninvestments by promoting ASEAN as a single investment destination
\nwith a menu of options for investors to choose from based on
\ntheir requirements such as level of job skills, natural resources
\navailability, technology and a supportive policy environment. A
\ncompetitiveness study has been initiated which has identified
\nsectors for integration which would enable ASEAN to compete with
\nother economies and increase trade.<\/p>\n
The region is being integrated physically through road,
\nrailway, power grids, gas pipelines and telecommunication
\ninterconnections. The Sumatra-Singapore gas pipeline launched
\nthis week would inject further momentum to the Trans ASEAN gas
\npipeline project aimed at building a regional network allowing
\nthe flow and trade of natural gas across borders.<\/p>\n
The more developed ASEAN countries are helping the newer
\nmember countries to integrate into the grouping through capacity
\nbuilding programs under the IAI. In addition, these countries are
\ndeveloping joint projects with ASEAN dialogue partners and among
\nthemselves to help the newer member countries.<\/p>\n
ASEAN has also brought about 36 years of peace and stability
\nto the region despite the bilateral and other squabbles among the
\ncountries in the region. The grouping has helped to cultivate the
\nhabit of consultation and resolving issues without resorting to
\nthe use of force. It has increased the comfort levels among the
\nleaders, ministers and officials to discuss sensitive issues
\nopenly and candidly and to preserve the credibility of ASEAN. It
\nhas brought about greater economic interdependence among
\ncountries and plugged the region into the global community.<\/p>\n
ASEAN's contribution should be weighed against the purpose of
\nits creation and the necessary limitations it has imposed on
\nitself based on the lessons learnt from failed regionalism
\nattempts in the past. There is no second best option for the
\nregion than ASEAN. Many of the dialog partners, including the EU
\nand the U.S. are now also engaging ASEAN apart from pursuing
\nbilateral relations with the individual member countries.<\/p>\n
Once the realization that ASEAN is here to help create a
\npeaceful, prosperous and progressive environment for all
\nSoutheast Asians sinks in, we will be able to appreciate the
\nvision that ASEAN is working towards in creating a concert of
\nnations, outward looking, living in peace, stability and
\nprosperity, bonded together in partnership in dynamic development
\nand in a community of caring societies. Then, every anniversary
\nof ASEAN would be more meaningful to the people of Southeast
\nAsia.<\/p>\n
The views expressed above are personal.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/appreciating-understanding-the-asean-concept-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }