Expansion of ASEAN

Question 1

Context of Post Cold War ASEAN? (after 1991)

Answer 1

Great Power presence in SEA underwent a transformation → withdrawal of Soviet Union; US and China left to forge new political relations with SEA states → pursue interests irrelevant to CW and Third Indochina War

End of US’ rights to military bases in PHP → reduction of US commitment to the region → emergence of China as crucial political actor in SEA → ASEAN to deal with changing realities of great power presence in the region

Question 2

28 Jan 1992

Answer 2

Singapore Declaration

Question 3

What was the Singapore Declaration about?

Answer 3

It called for:
Accession of non-ASEAN countries in SEA region to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC)

Encouragement of intra-ASEAN dialogues and external dialogues to maintain regional security

Creation of Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (SEANWFZ) in addendum to ZOPFAN

Institutionalisation of ASEAN summits → One Formal summit every three years

External Power involvement in Summits (ASEAN +3 Summit with China, Japan, Korea)

Pre-Existing Economic Committees Scrapped → Senior Economic Officials Meeting took control of all ASEAN economic cooperation initiatives and ministerial level council established to monitor implementation of ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)

Appointment of ASEAN Sec-Gen → given similar status as minister → appointment changes every 5 years → expansion of job scope to initiate, advise, coordinate and implement ASEAN activities

Question 4

When did Brunei join ASEAN?

Answer 4

Jan 1984
Sat in ASEAN ministerial meetings as an observer in the early 1980s
Became a member shortly after independence

Question 5

When did Vietnam join ASEAN?

Answer 5

July 1995

1992: Granted observer status after consenting to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC); formally applied in 1994 → accepted in 1995

Question 6

Significance of Vietnam joining ASEAN?

Answer 6

To ASEAN:
Vietnam was a strong card against China → strengthen ASEAN’s legitimacy against foreign power
Large untapped market for ASEAN products

Warming of relations between Vietnam and ASEAN member states in the late 80s-90s
Thai PM Chatichai → Battlefields to Marketplaces → desirous of close economic links with Vietnam from 1988 and supported Vietnamese membership of ASEAN in 1990
Late 1990: Suharto visited Hanoi
1991: Mahathir proposed initiation of ASEAN-VNM Dialogue

Question 7

Why did Vietnam join ASEAN?

Answer 7

COMECON accounted for 70% of her trade; lost much of its economic market after dissolution of Soviet Union (end of CW)
Need for economic markets and political allies → turned towards ASEAN

Question 8

When did Myanmar join ASEAN?

Answer 8

July 1997

July 1994: Foreign Ministers of Cambodia and Myanmar joined eight others on the occasion of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting.

1996: Foreign Ministers accorded observer status to Myanmar, before membership in 1997

Question 9

Significance of Myanmar joining ASEAN?

Answer 9

Initially determined to maintain its international isolation due to its resolve to stay non-aligned.

ASEAN justified its admission of Myanmar on the basis of its principle of non-interference
Yet ASEAN still sought to temper international criticism by claiming to pursue ‘constructive engagement’ with the military junta

Constructive engagement → quiet informal diplomatic efforts to get the junta to change while avoiding public criticism or economic sanctions on the regime.

Question 10

Western response to Myanmar’s admission to ASEAN?

Answer 10

US and EU criticised ASEAN for policy of constructive engagement with military junta:
US levied new sanctions on Burma even as ASEAN prepared for her accession in 1997
EU refusal to allow Myanmar to participate in Asia-Europe meeting
EU declined to lift visa ban on Myanmar officials - ASEAN responded in solidarity by refusal to show up for the 13th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting

Question 11

When did Laos join ASEAN?

Answer 11

July 1997

Question 12

Why did Laos join ASEAN?

Answer 12

Laos saw the benefits of ASEAN membership:
Preserve national sovereignty
Establish conducive environment for national development
Enhance bargaining power with non-ASEAN states and for economic development (trade)

Question 13

When did Cambodia join ASEAN?

Answer 13

April 1999

Observer status in 1994
Supposed to be admitted at the same time as Laos and Burma (23 July 1997) → ASEAN decided to postpone admission to 1999 due to internal instability

Question 14

Why did Cambodia join ASEAN?

Answer 14

Drawn to ASEAN due to peace and stability; economic development; platform for international relations

Question 15

Why were SEA states able to join ASEAN as and when they liked?

Answer 15

The Bangkok Declaration stated that ‘the Association is open for participation to all states in the SEA region’.

Question 16

Why was Cambodia’s admission to ASEAN delayed?

Answer 16

1993: UNTAC assisted in organisation of free elections in Cambodia

Elections resulted in formation of Royal Cambodian Govt with Prince Ranariddh and Hun Sen the First and Second PM respectively

July 1997: Hun Sen attempted coup against the Prince → fighting erupted

Question 17

ASEAN’s response and stance towards Cambodia’s delayed admission?

Answer 17

ASEAN’s Response:
Called into question ASEAN’s application of its most hallowed principle of non-interference

ASEAN had sent a troika of FMs of THL, IND and PHP to assist in resolution of the political crisis in Cambodia

ASEAN’s Defence:
Believed it was obligated to secure the political stability of Cambodia due to its role in the Paris Peace Accords
Cambodia not a member at the time, so did not interfere with domestic affairs of a member-state

Response:
Believed that events in Cambodia would affect regional peace and stability
Decided to delay admission → first time ASEAN conditioned membership on member’s domestic situation