Understanding and Explanation of ASEAN as a whole

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a geo-political and economic organization of the countries of the Southeast Asian region, established in Bangkok, August 8, 1967 through the Bangkok Declaration by Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. The organization aims to promote economic growth, social progress, and cultural development of its member states, and promote peace at its regional level. ASEAN member countries hold general meetings in each November.

The ASEAN Main Principles

The main principles of ASEAN are as follows:

1. Respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, integrity of national territory, and national identity of each country

2. The right to each country to lead a free national presence rather than interference, subversive or external coercion

3. Not interfere in the internal affairs of member countries

4. Settling differences or debates peacefully

5. Deny the use of lethal force

6. Effective cooperation between members

ASEAN Member

Today, ASEAN is composed of all countries in Southeast Asia (except Timor Leste and Papua New Guinea). The following are the ASEAN member states:

1. Philippines (founding country)

2. Indonesia (founding country)

3. Malaysia (founding country)

4. Singapore (founding country)

5. Thailand (founding country)

6. Brunei Darussalam (January 7, 1984)

7. Vietnam (28 July 1995)

8. Laos (July 23, 1997)

9. Myanmar (July 23, 1997)

10. Cambodia (December 16, 1998)

History

ASEAN was established by five initiating countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand in Bangkok through the Bangkok Declaration. The foreign ministers of the signatory of the Bangkok Declaration at that time were Adam Malik (Indonesia), Narsisco Ramos (Philippines), Tun Abdul Razak (Malaysia), S. Rajaratnam (Singapore), and Thanat Khoman (Thailand).

The contents of the Bangkok Declaration are as follows:

 Accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in Southeast Asia

 Increasing regional peace and stability

 Increase cooperation and mutual assistance for the common interest in economic, social, engineering, science, and administration

 Maintain close cooperation in the midst of existing regional and international organizations

 Improve cooperation to advance education, training, and research in Southeast Asia

Brunei Darussalam became the first member of ASEAN outside the five initiating countries. Brunei Darussalam joined ASEAN on January 7, 1984 (exactly one week after commemorating its independence day). Eleven years later, ASEAN again received a new member, Vietnam, which became the seventh member on July 28, 1995. Two years later, Laos and Myanmar joined the ASEAN membership on July 23, 1997. Although Cambodia plans to join ASEAN along with Myanmar and Laos, the plan had to be postponed due to Cambodia's domestic political problems. Nevertheless, one year later Cambodia eventually joined the ASEAN member on December 16, 1998.

Timor Leste

The new state of Timor Leste, which is a Portuguese colony later integrated into Indonesia, is now gaining observer status within ASEAN, having drawn protests from various ASEAN countries that do not support Timor-Leste's entry into ASEAN, on the basis of respect for Indonesia. Initially, Myanmar opposed the granting of a status observer to Timor-Leste due to Timor-Leste's support for Myanmar's pro-democracy fighter Aung San Suu Kyi.

Since the restoration of Timor-Leste's independence in May 2002, ASEAN has helped Timor-Leste a great deal. Timor-Leste has been invited to attend several ASEAN meetings. However, Timor-Leste remains an observer. Former Timor Leste President, Ramos Horta, has stated that he is not interested in becoming a member of ASEAN, because Timor-Leste is considered not an Asian (Southeast) country, but a Pacific or Australian country. Unlike his colleague Xanana Gusmao who stated that it would be more profitable for Timor Leste to be affiliated with ASEAN than to join the Pacific Islands Forum.

Recent developments indicate that Timor-Leste is keen to become an ASEAN member. Even the Government of Timor-Leste through its Foreign Ministry has targeted that Timor-Leste will become an ASEAN member by 2012, strongly supported by the Indonesian government as well as other ASEAN member countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and others . In addition to the opening of the ASEAN National Secretariat in Dili by the Government of Timor-Leste in early February 2009 to prepare for the stages of membership of ASEAN, as well as Timor-Leste's Foreign Minister Zacarias da Costa has applied officially for ASEAN membership to Marty Natalegawa in Jakarta on March 4, 2011.

At the 18th ASEAN Summit at the Jakarta Convention Center, Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, May 8, 2011, the President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stated that the heads of government / heads of ASEAN countries have assigned their Foreign Ministers, in capacity as the ASEAN Coordinating Council, to consider Timor Leste's desire to become an ASEAN member and then to recommend to leaders to be decided by the end of 2011 [5].

ASEAN cooperation with India

India became ASEAN's full speech partner at the 5th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, Thailand on December 14-15, 1995, having previously been a Sectoral Speaker Partner since 1992. At the 1st ASEAN-India Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on 5 November 2002 Leaders ASEAN and India affirm commitment to enhance cooperation in trade and investment, human resource development, science and technology, information technology and people to people contacts. The ASEAN and India commitments were confirmed through the signing of the ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace, Progress and Shared Prosperity and Plan of Action at the 3rd ASEAN-India Summit in Vientiane, Laos on 30 November 2004. [6]

The relationship between Indonesia and India in the field of economy and trade began to emerge in line with efforts towards cooperation between ASEAN and South Asian Regional Cooperation Association (SAARC) to move towards broader cooperation in Asia. More concretely, closer relations and cooperation have materialized in the partnership relationship between ASEAN and India through the format of the ASEAN + 1 summit (India), where the second meeting was held in Bali in October 2003. [7]

South China Sea Dispute

Some countries have competed to make territorial claims over the South China Sea. [8] The dispute is considered Asia's most potentially dangerous conflict point. Disputes that have arisen [9] [10]:

1. Indonesia, PRC, and Taiwan over the waters in the northeast Natuna Islands

2.The Philippines, China and Taiwan over the Malampaya and Camago gas fields.

3. The Philippines, China, and Taiwan over Scarborough Shoal.

4. Vietnam, China, and Taiwan waters to the west of the Spratly Islands. All or some of the islands in the area are also being contested Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

5. Paracel Islands disputed between PRC and Vietnam.

6. Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam over areas in the Gulf of Thailand.

7. Singapore and Malaysia along the Johor Strait and the Singapore Strait.

ASEAN has issued a declaration on this issue, calling on all countries to deal with the issue without resorting to violence

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