ASEAN, an historical embodiment of Southeast Asia

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.