ASEAN, an historical embodiment of Southeast Asia

The following is the second of two articles based on the address of former foreign minister Ali Alatas on his acceptance of a degree of Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, conferred by the National University of Singapore on Sept. 19.

SINGAPORE: We must push on with the realization of the ASEAN Free Trade Area to prove that even in adversity we do not turn inward or shy away from the challenges of globalization. We must also continue to weave sturdy social safety nets even during times of respite from crisis.

We must move the process of the ASEAN Regional Forum from the present stage of confidence-building to the next stages, that of promoting preventive diplomacy and the formulation of effective approaches towards conflict resolution.

The capacity of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to combat transnational crimes such as drug trafficking, terrorism, piracy and money laundering should be rapidly enhanced. At the same time ASEAN must bolster its capability to address the new global issues: the environment, human rights, good governance and democratization.

As an integral part of the Asia-Pacific, ASEAN shares the destiny of the larger region, whether it be in the realm of economics, politics or security. And tensions and anxieties at potential conflict are pervasive in that region if only for the fact that the physical presence and interests of four major powers converge on it.

Moreover, the region is saddled with chronic territorial disputes such those between Japan and Russia and between China and Japan. Just as perturbing are the China-Taiwan problem and the overlapping claims of sovereignty and territorial jurisdiction over parts or all of the Spratly islands group by five countries in the region and Taiwan.

All these could erupt into violence if not prudently managed. A recent addition to this dangerous mix of controversies is the United States Plan on National and Theater Missile Defense.

Nevertheless, there are positive developments in the region, the most hopeful being the growing rapport between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea. For five decades, tension between the two Koreas, and its nuclear implications, kept the international community worried and nervous.

But the situation changed dramatically for the better at the historic summit between the two Koreas last mid-June. The fact that this summit took place at all created a new and positive political momentum in the region.

This was followed by the first-time participation of the DPRK in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the only venue in the Asia- Pacific for the discussion of political and security issues supported by all major powers, and gave a big boost to the Forum's credibility by just being there.

Among the problems of ASEAN today is a by-product of its own earlier successes: its growth to include all the 10 nations of Southeast Asia. This has resulted in a perception of a two-tiered ASEAN, with the lower tier consisting of the latest members to join ASEAN, which ASEAN's Western partners tend to consider as less economically dynamic, liberal and advanced than the first six members.

This view is rather simplistic but there is enough truth in it. That is why ASEAN is working hard to close the gap between the development level of the original members and that of the new ones. Thus, ASEAN is focusing on development schemes that will especially benefit the new members, such as the Mekong Basin project.

The crisis is over and the convalescence of the affected ASEAN economies is undeniable; but because of perceptions of the Association's ineffectiveness, vulnerability and lack of cohesion, foreign direct investments, so necessary to complete that convalescence, are shying away from ASEAN. This is a case where perception creates the thing perceived.

One misperception is the view that ASEAN has been weakened because Indonesia, wherein lives 40 percent of the ASEAN region's population, is too heavily saddled with economic, political and peace-and-order problems to contribute significantly to ASEAN.

Indonesia has not disintegrated nor has its contributions to ASEAN been so drastically reduced. And while the major problems of Indonesia, like those of any other member, are felt all over the region, ASEAN itself does not depend its viability on any single country.

Its instruments, processes and procedures have acquired a life of their own that is independent of the temporary circumstances of any single member.

We do have formidable problems facing ASEAN but it would be wide off the mark for anyone to write us off. ASEAN remains relevant and vitally important to all of us in Southeast Asia and well beyond.

Both Singapore and Indonesia have profited from our involvement in ASEAN, from its successes and achievements, in a way that could not be matched if we worked only on a bilateral basis.

Indeed, one achievement that we often fail to credit ASEAN with is the undeniable growth and strengthening of bilateral relations among its members.

Hence, the ASEAN dream is still a possible dream and the ASEAN way of life a tangible reality. The ASEAN dream belongs more to the young generation -- which will wearing the mantle of ASEAN's leadership.