Behind the Scenes of ASEAN -- Episode 1

Summary

In this interview with Professor Dr. Sean Paul, an expert on ASEAN history, the origins and evolution of ASEAN are discussed. Dr. Paul traces its beginnings back to post-World War II Thailand’s focus on security, leading to the creation of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) and later the ASEAN Community. He highlights the role of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, and the inclusion of Japan in regional discussions, as key moments in the formation of ASEAN. The conversation sheds light on the critical geopolitical and security reasons driving ASEAN's foundation and its early stages of development.

Takeaways

• 😀 ASEAN community building began with a focus on security in Southeast Asia, especially post-World War II, with Thailand playing a key role in its early stages.
• 😀 Thailand's initial approach to regional security involved forming organizations like SITO, but later evolved to focus on regional members rather than major powers.
• 😀 The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) grew out of earlier efforts like ASA (Association of Southeast Asian States) and faced challenges, especially with Indonesia's concerns over Malaysia's formation.
• 😀 ASEAN's early formation involved a mix of political and security objectives, with a desire to foster peace and cooperation in the region amid tensions, particularly with Indonesia and Malaysia.
• 😀 One of the motivations for ASEAN's formation was to include countries like Japan, which had been isolated due to its history in World War II.
• 😀 ASEAN's founders aimed to reintegrate Japan into the community of Southeast Asia and Asia Pacific, to challenge its post-WWII isolation and integrate it diplomatically.
• 😀 The term 'ASEAN' was coined after several earlier attempts to organize Southeast Asia, with the Philippines playing a key role in popularizing acronyms like 'ASEAN' and 'ASPEC'.
• 😀 Key players in ASEAN's formation were the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand, who worked together to build a cooperative, non-threatening regional organization.
• 😀 The formation of ASEAN was influenced by regional dynamics, including conflicts and confrontations, such as Indonesia's opposition to Malaysia's formation.
• 😀 ASEAN's foundational meetings were important for setting up the cooperative framework that would later evolve into today's ASEAN community, with discussions about including countries like Japan and Korea.

Q & A

How did the ASEAN community begin?

The ASEAN community began with a focus on security after World War II. Thailand, for example, was preoccupied with security concerns and initially built collective treaties like Sito, which involved major powers such as the United States, United Kingdom, and France. However, ASEAN was focused more on regional members rather than major powers, starting with the Association of Southeast Asian States (ASA) consisting of Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

What was the role of the Sito in the formation of ASEAN?

Sito, the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, was an earlier attempt at collective security in the region, but it required the participation of major powers like the United States and the United Kingdom. ASEAN, however, sought to create a regional organization consisting of Southeast Asian countries, moving away from the involvement of external powers.

What was the significance of Malaysia's formation in the context of ASEAN?

The formation of Malaysia played a crucial role in shaping the early dynamics of ASEAN. When Malaysia was created, Indonesia became suspicious and began closely monitoring developments within the region, particularly due to the separation of Singapore from Malaysia, which led to the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation.

What were the primary objectives of the ASEAN community when it was initially formed?

The primary objective of ASEAN's formation was security. Southeast Asian countries sought to build regional cooperation to address security concerns in the context of the Cold War and tensions in the region. These security concerns were especially significant in the aftermath of World War II.

What was the significance of President Park Chung Hee's visit to Bangkok in 1965?

President Park Chung Hee's visit to Bangkok in 1965 played a key role in the development of the ASEAN community. His visit marked the beginning of efforts to expand cooperation in the region, including attempts to bring in countries like Japan and Korea. This visit also highlighted the importance of Southeast Asia's relationship with East Asia, particularly Japan's post-war rehabilitation.

Why was Japan's inclusion important for ASEAN during its early years?

Japan's inclusion in the regional community was seen as crucial to help reintegrate Japan into the global order after its defeat in World War II. ASEAN countries wanted to convince the world that Japan was not as problematic as it had been perceived and that it should be included in the community of Southeast Asia and the broader Asia-Pacific region.

What is the meaning of 'ASPEC' and how does it relate to ASEAN's early formation?

ASPEC, which stands for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, was an early attempt at regional cooperation that included not just Southeast Asian nations but also Japan and Korea. The name 'ASPEC' was coined by the Philippines and emphasized the importance of including Japan in the regional community.

How did ASEAN transition from the ASPEC idea to its formal formation?

While ASPEC was an early attempt to unite the region, ASEAN formally took shape through the efforts of various Southeast Asian countries. The idea of ASEAN was formalized in a meeting in Bangkok in 1967, where the decision was made to name the organization 'ASEAN' (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) instead of using acronyms like ASPEC.

What were some of the key challenges faced in establishing ASEAN?

One of the main challenges was overcoming regional tensions and suspicions. For example, the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation and the separation of Singapore from Malaysia were major points of conflict. Additionally, there was a need to balance the interests of various countries, such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, while focusing on security and economic cooperation.

Who were the key figures involved in ASEAN's formation, and what role did they play?

Key figures in ASEAN's formation included leaders like Adam Malik from Indonesia, who played a pivotal role in the organization's creation. Other influential leaders included those from Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines, who were involved in drafting key documents and decisions, such as the joint communique that helped shape the structure of ASEAN.