ASEAN was established in August 1967 with the purpose of accelerating the economic growth, social progress, and cultural development in the region, and promoting regional peace and stability.
Background
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.
Fundamental Principles
The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia, signed at the First ASEAN Summit on 24 February 1976, declared that in their relations with one another, the High Contracting Parties should be guided by the following fundamental principles:
- 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
- Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another
- Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner
- Renunciation of the threat or use of force
- Effective cooperation among themselves
Political Cooperation
The TAC stated that ASEAN political and security dialogue and cooperation should aim to promote regional peace and stability by enhancing regional resilience. Regional resilience shall be achieved by cooperating in all fields based on the principles of self-confidence, self-reliance, mutual respect, cooperation, and solidarity, which shall constitute the foundation for a strong and viable community of nations in Southeast Asia.
Some of the major political accords of ASEAN are as follows:
- ASEAN Declaration, Bangkok
8 August 1967 - Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality Declaration, Kuala Lumpur
27 November 1971 - Declaration of ASEAN Concord, Bali
24 February 1976 - Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, Bali
24 February 1976 - ASEAN Declaration on the South China Sea, Manila
22 July 1992 - Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, Bangkok
15 December 1997 - ASEAN Vision 2020, Kuala Lumpur
15 December 1997 - Declaration on Joint Action to Counter Terrorism
5 November 2001 - Declaration of ASEAN Concord II, Bali
7 October 2003 - ASEAN Convention on Counter Terrorism (ACCT)
11 January 2007 - Cebu Declaration on the Acceleration of the Establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015
11 January 2007 - ASEAN Declaration on Joint Action to Counter Terrorism
5 November 2001 - Joint Declaration of the ASEAN Defence Ministers on Promoting Defence Cooperation for a Dynamic ASEAN Community
25 May 2016
Although ASEAN States cooperate mainly on economic and social issues, the organization has a security function, with a long-discussed program for confidence-building measures and for establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Southeast Asia, with the objective of implementing ASEAN’s 1971 Declaration on a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN), and a Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), which would be a component of ZOPFAN.
Regime Objectives
The ASEAN Declaration states that the aims and purposes of the Association are: (1) to accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through joint endeavors in the spirit of equality and partnership in order to strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian nations, and (2) to promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries in the region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter. In 1995, the ASEAN Heads of State and Government re-affirmed that “Cooperative peace and shared prosperity shall be the fundamental goals of ASEAN.”
Verification and Compliance
The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is an important multilateral forum for political and security consultations and cooperation. The ARF has begun to explore activities where there is overlap between confidence-building measures and preventive diplomacy. ASEAN Member States are urged to settle disputes through friendly negotiations applying the procedures of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) of 1976. However, the Member States are not obliged to use the Treaty stipulations for the peaceful settlement of disputes. In case a State resorts to the use of force, no system of collective security is foreseen.
Point of Contact
The ASEAN Secretariat
70-A Jalan Sisingamangaraja
Jakarta 12110
Indonesia
Phone: (62-21) 726-2991, 724-3372
Fax: (62-21) 739-8234, 724-3504
Telex: 47213, 47214 ASEAN-JKT
Website: www.asean.org
Developments
2015-2012
2019-2016
2019
On 1 March, the 10th meeting of the ASEAN-US Joint Cooperation Committee took place in Jakarta. Both parties discussed shared strategic priorities, including transnational crime, cybersecurity, and developments in the U.S.-DPRK relationship.
2018
On 5 January, Dato Lim Jock Hoi assumed office as ASEAN’s new secretary general—he will serve from 2018-2022.
On 18 March, ASEAN and Australia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on counter terrorism, while jointly expressing grave concerns for the DPRK’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
In April, ASEAN Centre for Energy published the report Pre-Feasibility Study on the Establishment of Nuclear Power Plant in ASEAN, outlining the recent developments and prospects of civilian nuclear power for the ASEAN member states.
On 25 September, Thailand ratified the CTBT. With Thailand’s ratification, all ten ASEAN countries have now ratified the treaty.
From 13-15 November, the 33rd ASEAN summit took place in Singapore. The 6th ASEAN-U.S. Summit also took place on the sidelines of the larger ASEAN summit, at which U.S. Vice President Mike Pence stated that North Korea must disclose “a complete list” of its weapons and facilities at the two countries’ next meeting. The outgoing ASEAN Chair, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, handed over the ASEAN chairmanship to Thailand Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha at the conclusion of the larger summit.
2017
On 14 February, ASEAN expressed its grave concern over the DPRK’s test firing of on the Pukguksong-2 MRBM on 12 February 2017.
On March 2, the 24th meeting of the ASEAN-EU Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) was held in Jakarta.
On March 8, the ASEAN expressed its grave concern over the firing of ballistic missiles by the DPRK in the early morning of 6 March, 2017, reaffirming the importance of peace and security in the Korean Peninsula and its full support for the denuclearization of the peninsula in a peaceful manner.
On April 29-30 the 30th ASEAN Summit was held in Manila, Philippines.
On August 5, the ASEAN released a statement of the development in the Korean Peninsula, reiterating grave concern over the escalation of tensions in the peninsula.
2016
On 16 March, the new ambassador of the DPRK to ASEAN assumed office. Secretary-General Minh welcomed Ambassador An and reiterated the importance of working toward peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
On 12 April, during the 17th meeting of the ASEAN-China Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC), the two sides renewed commitments to forge greater cooperation.
On 25-26 May, the 10th annual ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) was held in Vientiane, Laos. The Joint Declaration of the 10th ADMM reiterates all Member States’ commitment to responding effectively to transnational crimes and transboundary challenges.
On 6-7 September, the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits took place in Vientiane, Laos.
On 8 September, the 11th East Asia Summit (EAS) was held in Vientiane, Laos. The EAS released a statement on non-proliferation, emphasizing the importance of advancing the goals of all three pillars of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The group also reaffirmed its commitment to preserving the SEANWFZ.
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