ASEAN Explained: Asia's Version of the European Union? - TLDR News

Summary

ASEAN, established in 1967, is an economic and political union of 10 Southeast Asian nations aimed at fostering regional stability and cooperation. Initially, it faced challenges due to mutual suspicions but later evolved, signing the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in 1976. This led to economic prosperity, with GDP growth averaging 15% annually from 1976 to 1982. ASEAN expanded in the 80s and 90s, adopting a non-interference policy. However, recent events like the Rohingya crisis and Myanmar's military coup have tested this policy, with ASEAN taking unprecedented steps to address internal issues, reflecting a potential shift in its approach to regional governance.

Takeaways

• 🌏 ASEAN is an economic union of 10 Southeast Asian countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
• 🔄 ASEAN was preceded by ASA and MAFALINDO, which were earlier attempts at regional cooperation that didn't last long due to national interests and mutual suspicions.
• 🗓️ ASEAN was established in 1967 with the signing of the Declaration of Bangkok, aiming to promote economic cooperation and regional peace and security.
• 🏛️ The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in 1976 was a significant revamp for ASEAN, introducing a framework for dispute settlements and expanding cooperation to include national resilience.
• 📈 ASEAN has been successful in maintaining regional stability and fostering economic growth, with an average annual GDP growth of 15% from 1976 to 1982.
• 📊 The ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) in 1992 aimed to eliminate internal tariffs between member states, but without a common external tariff.
• 📋 The ASEAN Charter in 2007 aimed to create a single market for the region, although ASEAN's influence was still limited by its non-interference policy.
• 🚫 ASEAN's non-interference policy has been challenged, particularly in response to the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar and the military coup.
• 🛑 In October 2021, ASEAN took a significant step by disinviting Myanmar from its annual summit, marking a potential shift in its non-interference stance.
• 🤔 ASEAN is at a crossroads, needing to decide whether to maintain its non-interference policy or take a more active role in regional issues like the situation in Myanmar.

Q & A

What is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)?

ASEAN is an economic union between 10 Southeast Asian countries aimed at promoting economic cooperation and regional peace and security.

What were the initial countries that formed ASEAN?

The initial countries that formed ASEAN in 1967 were Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Singapore.

What was the purpose of the Association of Southeast Asia (ASA)?

ASA was founded in 1961 with the purpose of creating peace and ensuring regional stability, particularly against the rise of communist influences in the region.

Why did ASA collapse in 1963?

ASA collapsed due to territorial disputes, such as Malaysia's claim over Sabah, and the differing national interests of member countries.

What was the significance of the Declaration of Bangkok in 1967?

The Declaration of Bangkok marked the creation of ASEAN, with the aim of promoting economic cooperation and regional peace and security among Southeast Asian nations.

What were the original objectives of ASEAN?

The original objectives of ASEAN were to encourage economic cooperation and promote regional peace and security, although they were quite vague and did not include a single market or military alliance.

How did the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) change ASEAN?

The TAC expanded ASEAN's objectives to include cooperation on matters of national resilience (security matters), established a high council for dispute settlements, and allowed for the integration of other Southeast Asian states.

What economic achievement did ASEAN experience from 1976 to 1982?

From 1976 to 1982, the cumulative GDP of ASEAN member states grew from $91.1 billion to $211.9 billion, reflecting an average annual growth of 15 percent.

What was the significance of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) in 1992?

AFTA aimed to eliminate internal tariffs between ASEAN members, promoting a free market economy, but it did not establish a common external tariff.

How has ASEAN's policy of non-interference been challenged?

ASEAN's policy of non-interference has been challenged by events such as the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar and the military coup, leading to the exclusion of Myanmar from the annual summit in 2021.

What is the current dilemma facing ASEAN regarding its non-interference policy?

ASEAN is at a crossroads, needing to decide whether to maintain its non-interference policy or intervene more heavily in situations like the military coup in Myanmar, which could entail more responsibilities and difficult conversations about its relation with national governments.