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Explain ASEAN's strategy for relevance in Asian international…
Explain ASEAN's strategy for relevance in Asian international relations. Has it been successful?
ASEAN Strategy
effect Southeast Asian states' goal of "omni-enmeshing" great powers to tame their power towards the positive end of promoting regional stability
omni-enmeshing → entangle all major powers that can influence regional security
*informality and low levels of institutionalization of agreements + ASEAN Way
ASEAN Way
set of norms and principles that regulate relations among member states
non-intervention, non-use of force
informality and consensus building, non-hegemonic practices
engaging all major powers and abstaining from 'band wagoning' and 'hedging'
ASEAN centrality
→ core of regional political deliberations and security arrangements
Asian IR
Two Main Themes: Economic Challenges + Regional Stability
; security influencing inter-regional and extra-regional actors
ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Plus Three, and ASEAN's FTA agreements
= omni-enmeshing powers
HOW? BECAUSE it ties and binds powers to SE
ARF
= major powers in East Asia and outside to annual regional security dialogues i.e. China, EU, India, Japan, SK + US
ASEAN Plus Three
= invites China, Japan + SK to foster tighter economic integration with SE
ASEAN's FTA
= signing FTA with several major economies, i.e. China, India, Japan + SK, reduction of tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade
*more powers involvement within SE = greater incentive to promote regional stability + economic challenges THEREFORE, influencing current and future Asian IR contexts
ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)
promotes ASEAN and East Asian economic development
MAIN OBJECTIVES:
free movement of goods, services, capital, investment, skilled labor across member states
great milestone for ASEAN economic integration
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
- world's largest FTA, initiated by ASEAN
1/3 of world pop. + 30% of global GDP
- first time China, Japan + Korea have come together in FTA
MAIN GOAL: economic parternship agreement (EPA) for East Asian nations
AND form larger and advanced FTA beyond existing ASEAN+1 FTAs
Successful?
YES!
PRESENT
greatly affected norms, socialization and identity building positively,
branching outside of OG political and security issues, but also economic
Its strategy up to this day is still present, e.g. RCEP (2020) initiatives
arrangements continue to build trust and confidence and enhance relations among regional states
FUTURE
RCEP
encourages trade in goods and services and investment across East Asia = contributing to continued economic development of region
economic development of ASEAN AND
secures ASEAN centrality in East Asian economic integration
→ ensuring regional stability through great powers' cooperation...
NO!
Re-thinking ASEAN centrality
...; current security environment, keep status quo?
e.g.
Myanmar crisis;
ASEAN calls itself advocate of regional stability, yet
won't interfere in domestic issues of regional concern
, understood as
'internal' affairs
...
e.g.
South China Sea
; having
China potentially driving a wedge among ASEAN members
, territorial disputes not having proper joint communique...
ASEAN Way + informality = unrealistic ideals in trying to achieve ASEAN strategy;
IMPORTANT OPPOSITION
: would norm socialization is adequate to address kinds of security challenges facing the region
how far can informal processes go?
ASEAN Way can lead to slow-decision making for urgencies
Essay Format
economic challenges and regional stability are themes present amongst Asian international relations
ASEAN strategy: Southeast Asian states' goal of "omni-enmeshing" great powers to tame their power towards the positive end of promoting regional stability
abstain from 'band wagoning' and 'hedging'
relevance in Asian international relations is seen through ASEAN's arrangements and processes
ARF
= major powers in East Asia and outside to annual regional security dialogues i.e. China, EU, India, Japan, SK + US
ASEAN Plus Three
= invites China, Japan + SK to foster tighter economic integration with SE
ASEAN's FTA
= signing FTA with several major economies, i.e. China, India, Japan + SK, reduction of tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade
ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)
promotes ASEAN and East Asian economic development
(RCEP)
: economic parternship agreement (EPA) for East Asian nations** AND form larger and advanced FTA beyond existing ASEAN+1 FTAs
Success? YES
MAIN POINT
: ASEAN strategy greatly affected norms, socialization and identity building positively,
branching outside of OG political and security issues, but also economic
e.g. RCEP being world largest FTA, comprise 1/3 of world pop. + 30% of global GDP AND first time China, Japan + Korea have come together in FTA, HUGE feat
arrangements continue to build trust and confidence and enhance relations among regional states
; ARF, EAS, APT, etc. are still ongoing...
DISAGREE
IMPORTANT OPPOSITION
: is norm socialization adequate to address kinds of security challenges facing the region?
Re-thinking ASEAN centrality
...; current security environment, keep status quo?
is regional stability via omnienmeshment of great powers really working?
e.g.
South China Sea
; having
China potentially driving a wedge among ASEAN members
, territorial disputes not having proper joint communique...
e.g.
Myanmar crisis;
ASEAN calls itself advocate of regional stability, yet
won't interfere in domestic issues of regional concern
, understood as
'internal' affairs
...