A growing ASEAN
A growing ASEAN
Some skeptical comments notwithstanding, it seems that the
attention that has been given by international observers and by
the region's media to the just-concluded ASEAN foreign ministers
conference in Bangkok is not totally unjustified. The various
statements of recognition that have been voiced in the West, for
example, can surely be regarded as a valid indication that ASEAN
-- the Association of Southeast Asian Nations -- is now on its
way to becoming a truly constructive regional force that is not
to be overlooked.
Considering the import of the principles agreed on by the
foreign ministers of the six ASEAN member states, it is probably
not too farfetched for us to say that this most recent meeting in
Bangkok has been one of the more meaningful of the ASEAN meetings
in the past few years and one that fits well the post-Cold War
mood that is at present pervading the globe.
One of the most widely publicized byproducts of this week's
Bangkok meeting, no doubt, was the establishment of the first-
ever ASEAN Regional Forum. Surely, it was no mean feat to bring
together the foreign ministers of 17 countries and the European
Union for a frank and open discussion regarding the measures that
could be taken to reduce the potential for conflicts in the
Southeast Asian and Asia-Pacific regions.
As the Japanese foreign minister, Yohei Kono, said, awareness
is growing of the importance of a region-wide political and
security dialog in increasing the transparency of each country's
policy and the sense of mutual reassurance in the Asia-Pacific
region.
All this clearly proves that, in the 27th year of its
existence, ASEAN is maturing as a regional organization aimed at
stabilizing the region through economic and cultural cooperation.
It is also clear that it is now becoming increasingly aware of
its wider global responsibilities. And certainly the time seems
to be right. Formed in 1967, the organization groups Brunei,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, as well as
Indonesia. Some of those countries are now recognized as being
among the fastest growing economies in the world.
Given such a growth and considering the political climate now
prevailing in the region and in the world, surely ASEAN's wish to
expand its territory to include the whole of Southeast Asia by
incorporating the four countries of Indochina would appear
reasonable. At this stage, Vietnam appears to be certain to
become a member in the not too distant future. How long it will
take for the others -- Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar (Burma) -- to
join will of course depend on whether, or how soon, the problems
that stand in the way can be resolved.
Having said all this, however, it is only fair to point out
that an abundance of obstacles are still there to be resolved
before ASEAN can become a "true" regional organization in the
sense, for example, of the European Community. One reason is the
diversity of historical backgrounds and economic as well as
national interests among the present member countries themselves.
Also, the potential for real conflict which some of those
differences hold is certainly not to be overlooked. In fact, it
is probably this conflict potential that has led to what many
observers see as a kind of arms race now going on among some of
the six ASEAN countries.
The question is, all those factors considered, whether there
is a real future for ASEAN as a regional cooperation
organization. We are confident that there is. We believe that all
the differences and the complications with which ASEAN sees
itself confronted at present are part of the natural process of
growth. Naturally, it will take considerable wisdom and
statesmanship on the part of the leaders of all the six member
states concerned to overcome the existing handicaps. Given their
performance over the past decades, however, we are confident that
such statesmanship will not be lacking.