Injecting a new momentum into ASEAN-Japan ties

Injecting a new momentum into ASEAN-Japan ties

S. Pushpanathan, Head, ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation, Jakarta

The Summits between ASEAN and its Northeast Asian dialogue
partners, China and Japan in Bali last October were portrayed by
many as a zero sum game between the two to woo ASEAN.

China secured a strategic partnership with ASEAN as well as
becoming the first dialogue partner to accede to ASEAN's Treaty
of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia thereby making history
on the two accounts. It also locked in a protocol on an early
harvest package under its comprehensive economic package with
ASEAN, and a pact on information and communications technology
cooperation.

Japan was seen as getting little out of the summit except for
a comprehensive economic framework document. Even India, a new
comer to the Summit gained much more with a framework agreement
on comprehensive economic partnership and a terrorism pact as
well as being the second dialogue partner to accede to the Treaty
of Amity and Cooperation.

The non-committal posture of Japan apparently dismayed its
businessmen and resulted in the Japanese dailies branding their
government's approach as cautious which had resulted in wasted
opportunities.

Is this a fair portrayal of ASEAN-Japan relations? Absolutely
not. ASEAN-Japan relations is more enduring and dynamic to be
loser. Japan is a matured and well accustomed friend and partner
of ASEAN. Besides, ASEAN external relations strategy is outward
looking aiming at maximizing cooperation with each and every
dialogue partner based on the strengths of ASEAN and each of its
dialogue partners.

Japan not only provided a ready market for the exports of
these countries but also set up manufacturing bases and
transferred the much need technology and management know-how.
Many of the successful companies in these countries have been
built on the Japanese model.

Japan also provided official development assistance (ODA) to
these countries as well as the other ASEAN member countries which
joined later. Japan has provided a total of about US$23 billion
to ASEAN over the last three decades and ASEAN continue to
receive the largest share of Japanese ODA.

While the contribution of Japan to ASEAN's economic prosperity
and integration cannot be denied, Japan should not rest on its
past laurels but will have to re-energize its relations with
ASEAN given the dynamic regional environment.

ASEAN is ready for an active engagement with Japan and will be
looking forward to injecting a new momentum into the relationship
as the ASEAN Heads of State/Government hold their Commemorative
Summit with the Prime Minister of Japan on Dec. 11-12, 2003 in
Tokyo. This is the first ever Commemorative Summit with a
dialogue partner in ASEAN's history of external relations and the
first Summit to be held outside ASEAN.

Japan should not procrastinate but seize the window presented
by the Commemorative Summit to cement a strong bond with ASEAN so
that both sides could act and advance together in a dynamic and
enduring partnership in the 21st Century. How could this be
achieved and in a fairly short time?

First, Japan and ASEAN should work towards Japan acceding to
ASEAN's Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia at the
Commemorative Summit and subsequently ratifying it. This will
help to boost mutual trust and confidence between ASEAN and Japan
in safeguarding peace, stability and prosperity of Southeast
Asia.

Since this is more a political document and the scope is
limited to Southeast Asia, Japan need not have to worry that the
scope of the Treaty could be extended beyond Southeast Asia nor
that the Treaty will hinder its obligations under other treaties
it is a signatory to or in implementing its UN obligations.

Second, Japan will have to speed up the implementation of the
ASEAN-Japan comprehensive economic partnership framework that it
had signed with ASEAN in Bali in October 2003 by extending from
2005 all efforts to commence negotiations so that there will be
sufficient time for the implementation of the framework.

This will allow for the timely delivery of mutual benefits in
the key areas of trade and investment promotion, facilitation,
and liberalization; trade related areas customs, standards,
information technology communication, tourism, and transportation
and logistics; and facilitating mobility of business people and
others.

Third, Japan will have to work with ASEAN in supporting the
regional integration drive through the IAI and in developing the
sub-regional growth areas in ASEAN such as the Mekong Basin and
the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines- East ASEAN
Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). This effort will strengthen ASEAN
integration and will bring about development to the outlying
areas in the region which will help more people to benefit and
create a more cohesive ASEAN.

Japan should also look into implementing more IAI projects and
in 2005 projects under the successor plan to the Ha Noi Action
Plan to realize ASEAN's Vision 2020. At the same time, Japan
should work closely with the new member countries of ASEAN not
only in human resource development but on infrastructure
development since a more connected ASEAN would spur economic
activities and opportunities for Japanese businesses looking for
new markets and investment opportunities.

Fourth, ASEAN and Japan have to work on a set of core values
that both sides could promote and use as a gel to bring about
better understanding among its people, especially the younger
generation so that a more cohesive and future orientated
relationship could be pursued. Such values should be built on the
rich traditions and values and principles of East Asia.

Finally, Japan and ASEAN should deepen East Asia cooperation
together with China and the Republic of Korea. This should go
beyond the implementation of ad-hoc projects under the ASEAN Plus
Three Process to focusing on the strategic development of East
Asia encompassing the political and security, economic and social
and cultural aspects for a more meaningful, dynamic and mutually
beneficial cooperation.

The writer is also Head of External Relations in the ASEAN
Secretariat. This article is a personal view.