INDO – PACIFIC INTEGRATION: THE RECEPTIVENESS OF ASEAN

Strategic Articulations of the Indo-Pacific Concept

Objectives and Principles of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific

Areas of Cooperation under the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific

Common Themes of Indo-Pacific Concepts

Significance of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo – Pacific

AUSTRALIA

Free & Open

  1. Promotes an open, inclusive & prosperous Indo-Pacific region where all states’ rights are respected.
    
  2. Of the view that the Indo-Pacific region is “undergoing a strategic transition as profound as the economic transformation that preceded it”.
    

ASEAN Centrality

Supports ASEAN Centrality in dealing with Indo-Pacific issues

Connectivity

  1. Provides various assistance to Indo-Pacific countries that contribute to capacity building & economic development of the region.  
    
  2. Encourages connectivity & capacity building efforts in the region.
    

Trade & Investment

  1. Extensive sea lines of communication in the Indian an Pacific Oceans supports Australian trade.
    
  2. Wants a stable & peaceful Indo-Pacific region for its security and prosperity. 
    

Security

Australia believes that more focus should be given to its relations with Japan, Indonesia, India & the ROK as these countries are considered as central to Australian foreign policy in Indo-Pacific region.

Rule of Law

  1. Advocates & defends international order & rule-based engagement.
    
  2. Wants China to “play a leading role that strengthen a regional order”.  
    

INDIA

Free & Open

  1. Free, open & inclusive region. Equal access to common spaces of sea & in the air. 
    
  2. Cohesive order in the Indo-Pacific region amidst protectionism
    

ASEAN Centrality

  1. Supports ASEAN Centrality in Indo-Pacific.
    
  2. ASEAN as the fulcrum of India’s Act East Policy
    

Connectivity

  1. Connectivity is vital to enhance trade & unites a region.
    
  2. Promote connectivity by focusing on maritime economic corridors, i.e. Mekong-India Economic Corridor.
    
  1. Focusing on Blue Economy - sustainable use of marine resources
    
  2. Explores the possibility of establishing relations between ASEAN & the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
    

Trade & Investment

  1. Level playing fields, not favoring protectionism.
    

Security

  1. Maritime Cooperation as a key in Indo-Pacific region.
    
  2. Cooperation in the maritime domain to be anchored by the concept of Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).
    
  1. To address challenges such as piracy, terrorism, drugs and arms smuggling
    

Rule of Law

  1. Dialogue as a common rules-based order
    

JAPAN

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Free & Open

“Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP) as the key concepts in Japanese foreign policy.

Promotes the establishment & freedom of navigation & free trade in the region.

ASEAN Centrality

Places importance on ASEAN Centrality & Unity.

Connectivity

Japan is committed to support ASEAN’s Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity.

Sees FOIP as a strategy that covers two continents (Asia and Africa) & two oceans (Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean).

Trade & Investment

Japan will expand infrastructure development, trade & investment.

Develops a free & open maritime order to bring stability & prosperity in the region.

Security

Views FOIP as Japan’s commitment for peace & stability.

Promotes capacity building on maritime law enforcement & cooperation.

Rule of Law

International Rules-based order.

Promotion & establishment of rule of law.

US

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Free & Open

Trump administration promotes a “Free & Open Indo-Pacific” concept to set it apart from Obama’s Pivot to Asia strategy. Agrees with Japan’s concept.

Connectivity

Fosters connectivity projects that truly drive regional integration & economic growth.

Trade & Investment

Cooperates with Australia to support high-quality infrastructure development in the Indo-Pacific region.

Advance free, fair & reciprocal trade as well as encourage open investment environments & market economics.

Energy

US partners with Australia in the Indo-Pacific Region on strategic mineral exploration, extraction, R&D of rare earth & high-performance metal.

Security

Aims to create a network security architecture.

Enhances US security & cooperative relationships to support the broader regional security challenges in maritime security, military, law enforcement capabilities & threat of terrorism.

Rule of Law

Upholds international law & build consensus.