Module 1: What is ASEAN?

• The ASEAN Declaration, also known as the Bangkok Declaration, was signed on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand.
• The founding member states are Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
• ASEAN means The Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)is a regional grouping that aims to promoteeconomic and security cooperation among its tenmembers.
• The ten (10) members of ASEAN are: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
• ASEAN works by rotating chairmanship annually. Rotating chairmanship annually. Secretariat based in Jakarta headed by the Secretary- General. Non-renewable 5-year term.
• Decisions are reached by consultation and consensusbased on ASEAN principles.
• The ASEAN Charter serves as a firm foundation in achievingthe ASEAN Community by providing legal status andinstitutional framework for ASEAN.
• The ASEAN Charter codifies ASEAN norms, rules and values; sets clear targets for ASEAN; and presents accountability and compliance.
• The ASEAN Charter entered into force on 15 December2008 at the presence of ASEAN Foreign Ministers at theASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta.
• In effect, the ASEAN Charter is the legally bindingagreement among the 10 ASEAN Member States.
• ASEAN‘s Community Basic Structure, from the most important to the less important: ASEAN Summit, ASEAN Coordinating Council, ASEAN Community Councils - Polotical-Security Council, Economic Council, Socio-Cultural Council.
• The ASEAN Summit is the highest policy-making body in ASEAN comprising the Head of States or Government of ASEAN Member States.
• The ASEAN Summit is held twice annually at a time to be determined by the Chair of the ASEAN Summit in consultation with other ASEAN Member States.
• The summit is to be hosted by the ASEAN Member State holding the ASEAN Chairmanship. The First ASEAN Summit was held in Bali, Indonesia on 23-24 February 1976.
• SEAFET stands for Southeast Asia Friendship and Exonomic Treaty.
• Tunku Abdul Rhaman was the Chief Minister who led Malaya’s independence. He eyed Malaya-Indonesia relations. His political motivation is to combine forces against evil designs against the region. He invited Burma, Indonesia, Lao, Cambodia, and South Vietnam. Only Thailand and Philippines supported the movement.
• SEAFET failed because it did not garner support, reluctance of other SEA countries stems from the vague visionof economic regionalism, no clear plan to operationalize, pro-western orientation of SEAFET worried non-aligned nations such as Burma and Cambodia, stalking horse for American policy, a challege to Jakarta leadership in the region.
• ASA stands for Association of Southeast Asia.
• ASA‘S STRATEGY: PROJECT COOPERATION AMONG MALAYSIA,THE PHILIPPINES, AND THAILAND THROUGH A MULTILATERAL FRAMEWORK
• ASA’S GOAL: Initiate a common action in furthering economic and social progress in Southeast Asia
• Unlike SEAFET which had backing from the west, thesigners claimed that ASA is not connected to any outsidepower
• ASA failed because there was no binding commitment, leadership was weak Ministers instead of their respective leaders, claims that it is a shadow of SEATO and western alignment, the Philippines also withdrew cause of it’s growing territorial conflict with Malaysia.
• MAPHILINDO stands for Malaysia, Philippines, and Indonesia.
• MAPHILINDO’s goal was to unite the Malay race. Pres. Macapagal took the lead having the resolution of territorial conflicts in mind. PH and Malaysia signed Manila Declaration - work together for peace, progress, and prosperity but without surrendering a portion of its territory.
• MAPHILINDO failed because the Federation of Malaysia was proclaimed, PH still did not withdraw its territorial claim to Sabah, Indonesia refused to recognize Malaysia, threat toregional leadership, Malaysia withdrew diplomatic relations with the PH, and the countries prioritized their national interests over regional cooperation