Formation of ASEAN
i) Reasons for Formation
What were the overarching interests which all ASEAN countries shared?
1) Desire for regional security
- ASEAN was formed in the waning days of Konfrontasi (Indonesia against Malaysia and Singapore) and the starting of the Sabah dispute between Malaysia and Indonesia. Hence the founding states wanted to bring stability to the region by reducing interstate tensions in an organization where common problems could be addressed. It was hoped that the benefits of cooperation would give these states a stake in regional peace and security. [1]
2) Greater autonomy in the conduct of regional affairs
- The newly-independent states did not want their sovereignty to be compromised, thus they believed a regional organization could help Southeast Asia manage its own affairs, rather than relying on foreign powers.[2]
3) Economic development
- In 1967, the communist insurgency was a threat to the founding states. The 1966 military takeover in Indonesia had been justified because of the communist threat, proving the potency of the communists. Hence to dent the communists' popularity, states sought ways to develop their economies to raise the standard of living for their people. Thus a regional organization could result in economic cooperation, leading to greater economic development in individual state. [3]
References
- [1]Mely Caballero Anthony, Regional Security in Southeast Asia: Beyond the ASEAN Way. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2005.
- [2]Yong Lee Leng, Southeast Asia, Essays in Political Geography. Singapore: National Universityof Singapore Press, 1982.
- [3]Narine, Shuan. Explaining ASEAN: Regionalism in Southeast Asia. London: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2002
However, though state interests converged with regional interests, the latter did not prevail over state interests. ASEAN was seen as a vehicle to promote narrow state interests among the five founders, namely Indonesia, Malaysia , Singapore, Thailand and The Philippines.
State interests of Indonesia
1) Regional leadership
- President Suharto hoped that the founding of ASEAN could further enhance Indonesia's leadership role in the region. Instead of an aggressive and confrontational Indonesia led by his deposed predecessor Sukarno, Indonesia would be cooperative and seek leadership through cooperation with others.
2) Public relations exercise
- Suharto had come to power on bloodshed in 1966. Thus the entry of Indonesia into a peaceful regional organization was to convince the world that Indonesia was not a destabilizing regime but a cooperative country.
State interests of Malaysia
1) State security
- The communist threat was real in Malaysia and the government believed it could be threatened by the 'domino' effect from fighting in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Thus joining ASEAN could assure its security more by reducing tensions between states, so it could focus more on its local communist threat.
State interests of Singapore
1) Recognition as an equal and sovereign state
- As a newly-established country which was never thought possible, and also seen as an economic parasite of the region, Singapore wanted to woo its neighbors so that they would be friendly towards it. Entry into ASEAN would directly assure it that other states recognized its sovereignty and acceptance.
2) Economic development
- As the smallest country in ASEAN, Singapore lacked natural resources for economic development. Cooperation with other countries could provide it with natural resources as well as markets for its goods.
State interests of Thailand
1) State security
- Similar to Malaysia, Thailand was wary of the Communist domino effect from Indochina. It did not want to rely solely on the US for its security, thus joining ASEAN could serve as a back-up.
State interests of The Philippines
1) Recognition & economic development
- As the only Catholic-majority population in Southeast Asia, the Philippines was seen as foreign to the rest. It hoped that joining ASEAN could stress its Southeast Asian identity and hence remove its image as an 'American' state. Additionally, ASEAN could hold possible economic cooperation by strengthening trade links and help it counterbalance its economic reliance on the US.
References
- Kernial Singh Sandhu, The ASEAN Reader. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 1992