Asia First<\/p>\n
The summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
\n(ASEAN) in Manila this weekend is of great importance for the
\nregion and for Indonesia. It will be the last summit before we
\nmove into a new millennium, with all the exciting and
\nunpredictable challenges facing the world and the region. It will
\nbe the first summit for the region as it recovers from a
\ndevastating economic crisis, a setback which has in retrospect
\nput the region on a stronger economic if not political footing.
\nFor Indonesia, this is the first ASEAN summit after tumultuous
\nchanges, marked by the shift from a repressive to a democratic
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
The Manila summit is essentially a chance for the 10 ASEAN
\nleaders to chart the course of the region into the next
\nmillennium. It is just as well that they have invited their
\ncounterparts from China, Japan and South Korea. With ASEAN
\nleaders currently considering the idea of political and economic
\nintegration, to be truly effective, the association should expand
\nits boundaries to encompass the whole of Asia, or at the very
\nleast, the East Asia region.<\/p>\n
The integration of East Asia, even with all the challenges
\nwhich this process would entail, must be initiated now if the
\nregion is to survive the vigorous competition which the
\nglobalization process has unleashed. Asia is falling behind the
\ntwo other major regions. Europe is leading in this game of
\npolitical and economic integration to the point of having a
\ncommon currency. The Americas is forging ahead with the North
\nAmerican Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which include South
\nAmerican countries. Argentina, for example, is even considering
\ngetting rid of its own currency in favor of the U.S. dollar.<\/p>\n
Admittedly, Asia is far less homogeneous, and far more diverse
\nthan these two other geographical areas, that political and
\neconomic integration will be that much more difficult. Asia has
\nalso witnessed some of the most destructive wars since World War
\nII, and it hosts some of the major hot spots that could
\npotentially erupt into devastating conflicts, such as the ones in
\nthe Taiwan Strait, the Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea.
\nThese tensions have made the process of promoting integration
\neven more challenging. However, they should not deter the region
\nfrom promoting the much-needed integration.<\/p>\n
One of the major lessons from the 1997 Asian financial crisis
\nis the need for the region to reduce its heavy reliance on the
\nU.S. dollar in trade and investment. Such dependence on one
\nsingle currency exposed Asian economies to the volatile world
\ncurrency markets. Talks have already started among Asian
\ncountries about realigning their currencies to one of their own.
\nWhile it may be decades before this idea gains popular currency,
\nit is encouraging to note that people are talking about it.<\/p>\n
Underpinning the difficulty of economic and political
\nintegration within Asia is of course lingering distrust among
\ncountries in the region. This is a legacy of both World War II
\nand the Cold War. Overcoming mutual suspicions remains the
\nbiggest challenge facing the region. So long as it exists, it is
\ndifficult for the two most powerful countries in the region --
\nJapan and China -- to provide the leadership that is needed to
\npush the idea of political and economic integration.<\/p>\n
This is precisely the point where ASEAN comes in. The
\nassociation remains the only institution in East Asia that has
\nthe credibility and capacity to take the initiative, if not the
\nleadership, in major issues of concern to the region. ASEAN has
\ndemonstrated this ability in the past, and in spite of the
\nsetback caused by the economic crisis, it surely has the capacity
\nto play that role again now.<\/p>\n
In turn, Indonesia can and must provide leadership within
\nASEAN. As the largest member in the group, Indonesia's leadership
\ncomes with the territory. This has always been the case, but with
\none big difference: we now have a new democratically elected
\ngovernment in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Under President Abdurrahman Wahid, this will be a more
\nconfident Indonesia, one with far less political baggage than the
\nIndonesia under Soeharto. Assuming that Indonesia can resolve its
\ndomestic problems and begin the economic recovery process, then
\nit is well positioned to take up leadership of ASEAN.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman was correct in his decision to make Asia
\nhis first foreign policy priority. This weekend in Manila, he
\nwill have the chance to move beyond slogans to turn the Asia
\nFirst concept into reality. He must seize the initiative, if not
\nthe leadership, to push for economic and political integration.
\nFor Indonesia and the rest of Asia, there is no other alternative
\nfor surviving the next millennium.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asia-first-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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