Development of ASEAN (1967-1976) Flashcards
8 August 1967
Bangkok Declaration: Birth of ASEAN
Heavy emphasis on regional economic, social and cultural cooperation
Reference to regional security deliberately muted to dispel notion of ASEAN as a political or military bloc and prevent antagonisation of superpowers (lone item that referred to security calls only for the promotion of ‘regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and rule of law’
Welcomed all SEA states to join when they were ready to long as they subscribed to its aims and principles
Early Years - ‘Slow Decade’ (First Decade of ASEAN)
Narrow Nationalism: Stumbling Block to ASEAN Cooperation
States were unwilling to compromise on its national interests for sake of regional cooperation
ASEAN still grappling with intra-ASEAN issues between member states
ASEAN activities suspended for nearly eight months between Malaysia and Philippines over the Corregidor Affair ( Special force of Filipino Muslim recruits being secretly trained on Corregidor Island bordering Sabah, with the supposed aim of liberating Sabah from Malaysian control) and a revival of the Sabah claim
(but did not undermine ASEAN - M’sia and PHP announced willingness to resume diplomatic ties due to the value they placed on ASEAN)
Macdonald House bombing by Indonesian marines during Konfrontasi; Singapore carried out execution despite Suharto’s plea for clemency
Lack of Regional Cooperation: Decrease in intra-ASEAN trade from 15.5% to 12.6% of total ASEAN trade due to lack of economic complementarity of ASEAN economies
Little accomplished with regards to original objectives that ASEAN set out for itself.
1975-1976
Powerful communist sub-region with Laos and Vietnam being Soviet allies, and Cambodia being a Chinese ally
Coupled with US’ diminishing presence, ASEAN was being deprived of a counterweight to the influences of Soviet Union and China
ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (May 1976): proclaimed intent to establish ‘friendly and harmonious’ relationship with Indochinese nations
Vietnam rejected proposition, deeming ASEAN a lackey of US; only adopted a friendlier stance towards ASEAN in 1977 (worsening of relations with China; growing desire for economic cooperation)
Vietnam invasion of Indochina in Dec 1978 shattered hopes of cordial ASEAN-Indochinese relations.
Evaluation of ASEAN’s
Early Years
While progress was indeed slow in the first decade, ASEAN was a success in contrast to the earlier failures of Maphilindo and ASA.
Though Corregidor Incident did disrupt relations briefly, it ultimately did not undermine ASEAN
ASEAN did not resolve or directly mediate for the dispute, but ASEAN members helped urged restrain and restoration of relations via informal channels
Deliberate decision to avoid discussing it (sensitive issues) within ASEAN also ensured continued survival of the organisation as it avoided potential suspicions of partiality
27 November 1971
Kuala Lumpur Declaration: Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN)
Context behind 1971 Kuala Lumpur Declaration: Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN)
Reduced US and UK military presence in SEA
British announcement to withdraw forces from Malaysia by end 1971 (earlier than anticipated - to be 1975)
Nixon Doctrine spelt out in 1969 Guam Declaration - American troops would not be committed to fighting future regional wars on the Asian continent
Threat of Communist Superpower Rivalry and Expansion
US started to adopt a more reconciliatory posture towards China, paving the way towards Sino-American rapprochement; against the backdrop of worsening Sino-Soviet relations which culminated in the Ussuri River Conflict (1969)
Looming threat of SEA turning into a potential battleground for China and Soviet Union
Aims of 1971 Kuala Lumpur Declaration: Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN)?
Neutralisation of SEA; free from big power entanglements and external interference and subversion
Legal commitments to ASEAN’s neutrality, guaranteed by the great powers
Made explicit the expectation of non-interference by external powers
SIgnificance of 1971 Kuala Lumpur Declaration: Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN)?
Signalled strong commitment to preservation of SEA as an independent and autonomous region
Conceived as an extramural dimension of the ‘ASEAN Way’
A Compromise revolving around a shared commitment to the norms of sovereign equality and non-interference
neutrality was phrased as an aspirational goal, but without a mechanism for implementation
forged in an attempt to satisfy diverse national security interests, as well as contending identity claims
Quintessential of the emerging ASEAN way of compromise, consensus building, avoidance of strict reciprocity and rejection of legally binding obligations
Feb 1976
Bali Summit
Context behind the 1976 Bali Summit
South and North Vietnam were unenthusiastic about ZOPFAN when the Kuala Lumpur Declaration was released.
Saigon believed that neutrality of SEA would facilitate communist aggression; and Hanoi was equally unimpressed as it relied on external material support to pursue the war with the South
Collapse of the non-communist regimes in Indochina in 1975:
Reinforced the ASEAN members’ commitment to the notion that economic and social development was essential in the continuing struggle against the communist threat and the need to seek a more effective regional consensus.
Spurred a sudden deepening of cooperation within ASEAN
By this time period, ASEAN states had achieved internal stability, and could now turn their attention towards advancing regional cooperation.
What was the Declaration of the ASEAN Concord?
Happened at the Bali Summit
Stated for the first time that member countries would expand political cooperation, adopting principles for regional political stability and programme of action for political cooperation
However cooperation on security members continued to be carried out on a non-ASEAN basis
What was the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation?
Happened during the Bali Summit
Raised provisions of ZOPFAN / KL Declaration to a treaty level
Bound ASEAN leaders to rely exclusively on peaceful negotiations to resolve intra-regional differences
Expressed determination to strengthen national resilience in political, economic, security and socio-cultural fields ‘cooperate in all fields for the promotion of regional resilience’
What was the Establishment of the ASEAN Secretariat?
Happened during the Bali Summit
Permanent ASEAN secretariat established in Jakarta, headed by a secretary general to be chosen for a three-year term from each member state
Significance of the Bali Summit
Signalled a shift in the goals of ASEAN from regional reconciliation to collective internal security, emphasising the need to manage great power competition and intervention in the region through the ZOPFAN framework
Deepening of ASEAN intramural political and security cooperation
Formal affirmation of sanctity of existing boundaries in SEA as well as norms and practices associated with the ASEAN Way
5 August 1977
Kuala Lumpur Summit (Second ASEAN Summit - with the First being the signing of the Bangkok Declaration in 1967)
