Regional Peace & Security

Logo of ASEAN One of the objectives of the ASEAN when it was established was [1] “ to promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries in the region” Here, regional peace and security within ASEAN, in the time period of 1975 to 1990 will be reviewed.

In 1975, the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting and the ASEAN Labor Ministers Meeting were held. The ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting was the first of it kind. At this meeting, it was decided that ASEAN member countries were [2] “ to adopt pragmatic approaches to the ASEAN economic co-operation which would take into account the differences in the stages of development of the member countries.” With economic co-operation between the various ASEAN member countries infused with the pragmatic approaches, member countries could expect to receive more adequate help in terms of economy when required. Economic stability in the region could also be more easily achieved as member countries take into account each other’s stages of development, allowing more developed countries to extend the appropriate technical support to less developed countries. Without the torment of economic problems, countries would have less incentive to start any sort of activities to disrupt the regional peace which would hinder economic growth.

In 1976, ASEAN agreed to the [4] “ Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia” and the [5] “ Declaration of ASEAN Concord.” The Declaration of ASEAN Concord was in particular related to maintaining regional peace and security. The Declaration of ASEAN Concord set up the framework for the ASEAN cooperation, in which many conflicts could be avoided through diplomatic methods. The ASEAN Concord also called for the co-operation of member countries on many levels, thus this ensures economic relations between countries which is not only beneficial to region but also increases regional stability, peace and security as it would be costly to disrupt the peace in the region for any country’s economy. In the same year, the [6] “Declaration of Principles to combat the abuse of narcotic drugs¡± was established as well. With the implementation of it, the effect of abuse of narcotic drugs” which is a major peace, economic and security destabilizing factor would be reduced considerably in the region with better co-operation between the countries. In 1979, a series of special meetings; meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers on political developments in the Southeast Asia region and on Indochinese refugees; were held by ASEAN to address several issues that were disrupting the peace in the region. These issues threaten to disrupt the peace and security of the region, and the special meetings ASEAN had were to resolve them so as to enhance the peace and security of the region.

From 1980 onwards, the basis for regional peace and security in Southeast Asia had already been established through the efforts of the ASEAN and its various policies. Every year, the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and ASEAN Economic Meeting are held, with the host country rotating among its member countries each year. In addition to these annual meetings, other special meetings are set up and arranged between ASEAN countries as deemed fit when the situation arises, which further protect the regional peace and security of ASEAN. Further examples of such special meetings include; The declaration of objectives regarding the ASEAN Agricultural Development Planning Centre, 1980; ASEAN Resolution on Shipping and Trade, 1980; Arrangement between the government of member countries of ASEAN and government of Canada on economic co-operation, 1981; Protocol to amend the agreement on ASEAN food security reserve, 1982; ASEAN customs code of conduct, 1983; ASEAN Foreign ministers on the international problem of drug abuse and trafficking, 1985; ASEAN petroleum security agreement, 1986.

Regional Peace & Security

References