ASEAN

Introduction/history
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional grouping that promotes economic,
political, and security cooperation among its members.

The ASEAN Declaration in 1967, considered ASEAN’s founding document, formalized the principles
of peace and cooperation to which ASEAN is dedicated. The ASEAN Charter entered into force on 15
December 2008. With the entry into force of the Charter, ASEAN established its legal identity as an
international organization and took a major step in its community-building process.

ASEAN commands far greater influence on Asia-Pacific trade, political, and security issues than its
members could achieve individually. This has driven ASEAN’s community building efforts which is
based largely on consultation, consensus and cooperation

ASEAN was formed in 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand to
promote political and economic cooperation and regional stability. Brunei joined in 1984, shortly
after its independence from the United Kingdom, and Vietnam joined ASEAN as its seventh member
in 1995. Laos and Burma were admitted into full membership in July 1997 as ASEAN celebrated its
30th anniversary. Cambodia became ASEAN’s tenth member in 1999.

Links-https://www.nti.org/learn/treaties-and-regimes/association-southeast-asian-nations-asean/

https://2009-2017.state.gov/p/eap/regional/asean/index.htm

ASEAN MEMBERSHIP
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional grouping that promotes economic,
political, and security cooperation among its ten members:

Brunei

Cambodia

Indonesia

Laos

Malaysia
Myanmar

the Philippines

Singapore

Thailand

Vietnam

ASEAN was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok by the five original member countries:
Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined on 8 January
1984, Vietnam on 28 July 1995, Laos and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April
1999.26-Mar-2019

The Member States promise to uphold the peace, neutrality, cooperation, non-interference and
respect for national differences and sovereign rights.

Procedure for becoming a Member of ASEAN: -

1.The procedure for Application and admission to ASEAN shall be prescribed by the ASEAN
Coordinating Council.

2. Admission shall be based on Following criteria:

(a) Location in the recognised geographical region of Southeast Asia;

(b) Recognition by all ASEAN Member States;

(c) Agreement to bound by the Charter; and

(d)Ability and willingness to carry out obligation of membership

3.Administration shall decide by consensus by the ASEAN summit, upon the recommendation of the
ASEAN coordinating council.

4. An applicant state shall be admitted to ASEAN upon signing an instrument of Accession to the
Charter.

ASEAN +3
ASEAN+3 cooperation began in December 1997 and institutionalized in 1999 when the Leaders
issued a Joint Statement on East Asia Cooperation at their Third ASEAN+3 Summit in Manila. The
ASEAN+3 leaders expressed greater resolve and confidence in further strengthening and deepening
East Asia cooperation at various levels and in various areas, including energy, transport, and
information and communications technology (ICT). ASEAN agreed to strengthen partnership with the
People’s Republic of China (PRC), the Republic of Korea (Korea) and Japan to address mutual issues
and concerns in energy security, natural gas development, oil market studies, oil stockpiling, and
renewable energy.
OBJECTIVES OF ASEAN
The Association of South East Asian (ASEAN) Nations was created with the following objectives-

• ASEAN is principally an economic community. The primary objective was to increase

• It aims to create a common market and production base within ASEAN states.

• It is committed to improve the Dispute Settlement Mechanism to resolve economic disputes.

• ASEAN also focuses in creating a Free Trade Area (FTA) for investment, labour, and services.

The secondary objective of ASEAN is to promote stability and regional peace based upon the
principles and rules of law stated under the United Nations Charter.

ASEAN has 1 Observer state which is Papua New Guinea.

Whereas the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) has the following members-

27 States – Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, China, European Union,
India, Indonesia, Japan, Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea, Republic of Korea, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russian Federation,
Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor Leste, United States, and Vietnam.

SOURCES – Political Science class XII (arihant); Authors- Kamlesh Kumar, Kumud N Imani.

https://media.nti.org/pdfs/arf_13.pdf

THE SUBSIDIARY ORGANS OF ASEAN

• The ASEAN Summit comprises of the heads of state and government of the member states.

• It is the Supreme policy making body of ASEAN.

• It instructs the relevant ministers in each of the councils concerned to hold ad hoc inter- ministerial
meetings, and addresses important issues concerning ASEAN.

• It authorises the establishment and the dissolution of Sectoral Ministerial Bodies and other ASEAN
institutions.
• It appoints the Secretary- General of ASEAN.

• ASEAN Summit meetings are held twice annually and is hosted by the Member State holding The
ASEAN chairmanship.

2) ASEAN COORDINATING COUNCIL

• The ASEAN Coordinating Council comprises of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and meets at
least twice a year.

• The coordinating council prepares the meetings and coordinates the implementation of
agreements and decisions of the ASEAN Summit.

• It also coordinates with the ASEAN community councils to enhance policy coherence,
efficiency and cooperation among them.

• It considers the report of the Secretary-General on the functions and operations of the
ASEAN Secretariat and other relevant bodies.

• It approves the appointment and termination of the deputy Secretaries-General upon the
recommendation of the Secretary-General and undertakes other tasks as may be assigned by the
ASEAN Summit.

3) ASEAN COMMUNITY COUNCILS

• The ASEAN Community Council comprises of the ASEAN Political-Security Community

• Each ASEAN Community Council has under its purview the relevant ASEAN Sectoral
Ministerial Bodies.

• Each Member State designates its national representation for each ASEAN Community
Council meeting.

• In order to realise the objectives of each of the three pillars of the ASEAN Community, each
ASEAN Community Council:

a) Ensures the implementation of the relevant decisions of the ASEAN Summit;

b) Coordinates the work of the different sectors under its purview, and on issues which cut
across the other Community Councils.

c) Also, summit reports and recommendations to the ASEAN Summit on matters under its
purview.

• Each ASEAN Community Council meets at least twice a year and is chaired by the
appropriate Minister from the Member State holding the ASEAN Chairmanship.
4) ASEAN SECTORAL MINISTERIAL BODIES

• ASEAN sectoral ministerial bodies -

a) function in accordance with their respective established mandates;

b) implement the agreements and decisions of the ASEAN Summit under their purview;

c) strengthen cooperation in their respective fields in support of ASEAN integration and

d) submit reports and recommendations to their respective Community Councils.

• Each ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Body has under its purview the relevant senior officials and
subsidiary bodies to undertake its functions.

5) SECRETARY – GENERAL OF ASEAN AND ASEAN SECRETARIAT

• The Secretary-General of ASEAN is appointed by the Summit for a non -renewable term of
office of five years, selected from the ASEAN Member States.

• The functions of the Secretary-General include:

a) carrying out the duties and responsibilities.

b) Facilitate and monitor progress in the implementations.

c) Participates in meetings.

d) Presenting the views of ASEAN in meetings with external parties.

e) Recommends the appointment and termination of the Deputy Secretary-Generals.

• The Secretary-General is also the Chief Administrative officer of ASEAN and is assisted by
four Deputy Secretaries-General.

• The four Deputy Secretaries-General are of different nationalities from the Secretar-General
and come from Four different ASEAN Member States.

• The Secretary-General and the staff are required to –

a) Uphold the highest standards of integrity, efficiency, and competence in the performance of
their duties.

b) Not seek or receive instructions from any government or external party outside of ASEAN;
and

c) Refrain from any action which might reflect on their position as ASEAN Secretariat officials
are responsible only to ASEAN.
• Each Member State undertakes to respect the responsibilities of the Secretary-General and
the staff, and not to seek to influence them in the discharge of their responsibilities.

6) ASEAN HUMAN RIGHTS BODY

• In conformity with the purposes and principles of the ASEAN charter relating to the
promotion and protection of Human rights and fundamental freedom, ASEAN has established an
ASEAN human rights body that is the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights
(AICHR).

• The establishment of the AICHR demonstrates ASEAN’s commitment to pursue forward-

• The AICHR holds two regular meetings per year and additional meetings when necessary,
and reports to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers.

7) ASEAN FOUNDATION

• The ASEAN foundation was established in December 1997 during ASEAN’s 30th Anniversary
Commemorative Summit to help bring about shared prosperity and a sustainable future to all 10
ASEAN Member Countries.

• The ASEAN foundation supports the Secretary-General of ASEAN and collaborates with the
relevant ASEAN bodies to support ASEAN community building by promoting greater awareness of
the ASEAN identity, people-to-people interaction, and close collaboration among the business
sector, civil society, academia and other stakeholders in ASEAN.

• The ASEAN foundation is accountable to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, who shall submit
its report to the ASEAN Summit.

Reference links.

 www.nti.org

 https://asean.org

 https://humanrightsinasean.info

Some unpopular facts about the ASEAN organisation:

•ASEAN is home to different ethnic groups with their own distinct culture and traditions.

•Australia’s largest two - way trading partner.

• If ASEAN were a single country, it would be the seventh- largest economy in the world.
•ASEAN is home to 227 of the world’s largest companies.

• The number of consumer households in ASEAN is expected almost to double by 2025.

• Although the region occupies only 3% of the world’s total surface, 20% of all known species live
deep in its mountains, jungles, rivers, lakes and seas.

•ASEAN countries are accounted for a quarter of global fish production.

• ASEAN member states remain diverse in terms of their political characteristics. Thailand and,
to a lesser degree, the Philippines are still struggling to consolidate democracy. Myanmar is under
military rule. Malaysia and Singapore continue to provide successful examples of Soft-
authoritarianism. Vietnam and Laos are Leninist states. Cambodia, which continues to exercise one-
man rule, is hardly a democracy and Brunei Darussalam is a sultanate. Only Indonesia could be
considered a more stable democracy in the region.

Reference links:

 https://www.sydney.edu.au

 https://www.weforum.org

 https://www.idea.int

The India-ASEAN FTA is significant because it is the first multilateral FTA that India has negotiated till
date.

CONCLUSION
Over the last six years, the hurdles faced by the India-ASEAN FTA Began with objections that India
had more than 1,400 items on the sensitive or negative list. ASEAN countries are the engine of
liberalization and regulatory reform has to be home-driven with governments taking unilateral,
measures in response to internal and external conditions. In essence, it not only compares and
contrasts trade policies in individual Southeast Asian countries. India ASEAN cooperation covers the
economic, political, security and development dimensions with a number of mechanisms established
to promote dialogue and cooperation in these areas. Vigorous and sustained interaction between
ASEAN and India would help both parties in maintaining a high growth path and meet their
development objectives. The fear of India losing its multilateral economic deal resounds in rising
closeness between the two regions i.e., China and ASEAN