Monday, 5 September 2011
Politics And Securities of Asean
The ASEAN declaration of 1967 exhorts the association to attain its economic, social and cultural aims through “joint endeavours” and “active collaboration and mutual assistance.” Regarding its political objective of regional peace and stability, however, the Declaration contains no equivalent exhortation. It speaks only of “respect for justice and the rule of law” and “adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter.” It makes no impassioned call for the ASEAN member states to take common political positions.
At the First ASEAN Summit in Bali in February 1976, the member countries signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, which spelled out the basic principles for their relations with one another and the conduct of the association’s programme for cooperation:
Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identity of all nations;
The right of every state to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion or coercion;
1. Noninterference in the internal affairs of one another;
2.Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful means;
3.Renunciation of the threat or use of force; and
4.Effective cooperation among themselves.
The treaty envisaged these principles as the foundation of a strong Southeast Asian community. It stated that ASEAN political and security dialogue and cooperation should aim to promote regional peace and stability by enhancing regional resilience. And this resilience shall be achieved by cooperation in all fields among the member countries.
Following these principles and guidelines, Southeast Asia embarked on a journey towards regional solidarity that has been steady and sure. Through political dialogue and confidence building, ASEAN has prevented occasional bilateral tensions from escalating into confrontation among its members. And by 1999 the vision of an ASEAN including all the countries of Southeast Asia as members had been achieved.
At the First ASEAN Summit in Bali in February 1976, the member countries signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, which spelled out the basic principles for their relations with one another and the conduct of the association’s programme for cooperation:
Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identity of all nations;
The right of every state to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion or coercion;
1. Noninterference in the internal affairs of one another;
2.Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful means;
3.Renunciation of the threat or use of force; and
4.Effective cooperation among themselves.
The treaty envisaged these principles as the foundation of a strong Southeast Asian community. It stated that ASEAN political and security dialogue and cooperation should aim to promote regional peace and stability by enhancing regional resilience. And this resilience shall be achieved by cooperation in all fields among the member countries.
Following these principles and guidelines, Southeast Asia embarked on a journey towards regional solidarity that has been steady and sure. Through political dialogue and confidence building, ASEAN has prevented occasional bilateral tensions from escalating into confrontation among its members. And by 1999 the vision of an ASEAN including all the countries of Southeast Asia as members had been achieved.
