Key Takeaways
FPCI-GRIPS Virtual Public Forum
“Addressing Geopolitical Challenges in the Region and Beyond through ASEAN-Led Mechanisms”
16, July, 2024
Speakers:
- H.E. Ong Keng Yong, Executive Deputy Chairman of S. Rajaratnam School ofInternational Studies; Secretary-General of ASEAN (2003 - 2007)
- H.E. Robert Matheus Michael Tene, Deputy Secretary General for ASEAN
Political Security Community (2021-2024)
- Prof. Tsutomu Kikuchi, Professor Emeritus at Aoyama Gakuin University
Key Takeaways:
1. ASEAN has contributed to the stability and development in Asia over many years and the organization has begun to take a proactive stance towards contributing to the world through ASEAN-led frameworks such as the East Asia Summit, and ASEAN Regional Forum.
2. ASEAN member states have a sense of agency that binds them together. The development of ASEAN's political security community as part of ASEAN’s three community pillars is concrete evidence that ASEAN member states are willing to face challenges in different sectors together.
3. ASEAN-led mechanisms are not only made for internal ASEAN community building, some mechanisms are designed to engage ASEAN with external partners.
Arrangements such as the ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN Plus Three, East Asia Summit becomes a venue where countries join together under the leading role of ASEAN-led mechanisms in order to deepen cooperation between ASEAN countries and their external partners.
4. Until recently, there were still hesitations from some member states of the East Asia Summit to bring the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) to the main platform of the East Asia Summit. If the relation between the AOIP and the East Asia Summit were to be developed further, the policy agendas within the AOIP could be more effectivelyimplemented in the region.
5. The ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum was established as a concrete means to implementcooperation within the Indo-Pacific region based on the ASEAN Outlook on theIndo-Pacific (AOIP).
6. Following a change into a more pluralistic international order, ASEAN is expected to play a pivotal role in influencing major powers like the US and China in the Asia Pacific region. However, this changing international order has not been utilized well by ASEAN due to its attachment to ASEAN centrality. In order to develop more active and influential regional policies in the Asia Pacific region, ASEAN centrality needs to undergo a change from a rhetorical centrality into a substantial centrality.
7. Adaptations still need to be made to ASEAN-led mechanisms, especially in ensuring their continuity over periods of chairmanship changes. Certain challenges still arise from chairmanship changes, such as discrepancies in terms of what topics should be prioritized and continued from the previous chairmanship.
8. The AOIP is regarded as ASEAN’s only commonly endorsed document that guides ASEAN on how to deal with Indo Pacific regional affairs. Therefore, ASEAN member countries need to continue to implement, update, and review the AOIP with the goal of advancing multilateralism in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Key Takeaways was published by Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia – FPCI
IRSEA and FPCI are partners.
The content in this document does not necessarily reflect the official policy, position or view of IRSEA. However, it is necessary to underscore that the speakers are very well known high-class analysts in Indonesia, having direct contact with ASEAN. They expressed their opinions on the most challenging and hot matters confronting today ASEAN. Some views one can see in IRSEA’s commentaries meant to make ASEAN even more robust and dynamic.
IRSEA is very honoured to have H.E. Ambassador Ong Keng Yong, Executive Deputy Chairman of S. Rajaratnam School ofInternational Studies; Secretary-General of ASEAN (2003 - 2007) among its Honorary Memebers