ASEAN Regional Forum

ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is a forum formed by ASEAN in 1994 as an important platform
for dialogue and consultation on matters related to politics and security in the region, as well as to
discuss and equate views between ARF participating countries to minimize threats to regional stability
and security. In this connection, ASEAN is the main driver in the ARF. ARF is the only forum at the
government level attended by all strong countries in the Asia Pacific region and other regions such as
the United States, the People’s Republic of China, Japan, Russia and the European Union (EU).

ARF participants numbered 27 countries consisting of all ASEAN member countries consisting
of all ASEAN member countries (Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar,
Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines), 10 countries ASEAN Talk Partners (United States,
Canada, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia, New Zealand and the European Union) and several
countries in the region, namely Papua New Guinea, Mongolia, North Korea, Pakistan, Timor-Leste,
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The approach adopted by ARF is evolutionary and takes place in three major stages, namely
Confidence Building, Preventive Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution. The ARF decision must taken
through a consensus after in-depth consultation between ARF participants. Since its establishment in
Bangkok in July 1994, the ARF has undergone an evolutionary process consisting of promotion of
increased trust among participating countries, development of preventive diplomacy and elaboration
on approaches to conflict prevention. This approach has enabled ARF participants to deal
constructively with various political and security issues faces by the region, including new issues faced
by the region, including new issues that have emerged as a result of globalization.

ARF agrees that the concept of comprehensive security does not only cover military aspects
and traditional security issues, but also relates to political, economic, social and other issues such as
non-traditional security issues.

In its initial phase, the ARF should therefore concentrate on enhancing, the trust and
confidence amongst participants and thereby foster a regional environment conducive to maintaining
the peace and prosperity of the region. Overall, the ARF’s contribution to regional order may well lie
in the socializing impact of multilateralism on the balancing behaviour of major Asia-Pacific powers.