Chapter 5: Asian Regionalism

Introduction:

The processes of globalization and regionalization remerged

during the 1980s and heightened after the end of the Cold War
in the 1990s. At first, it seems that these two processes are
contradicting – the very nature of globalization is, by definition,
global while regionalization is naturally regional.

The regionalization of the world system and economic activity

undermines the potential benefits coming out from a liberalized global
economy. This is because regional organizations prefer regional partners
over the rest.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this topic, learners should be able to:

1. Explain what Asian Regionalism is and its purpose;

2. Undermine the rationale behind the creation of such regional
organization;
3. Create a stand about the current issues, problems as well as
prospects for the future of Asian Regionalism;

Discussion:

Regionalism

- It is the manifestation or expression of a common sense of cultural

identity and purpose combined with the creation and
implementation of institutions that express a particular identity
and shape collective action within a geographical region.

Asian Regionalism
- Since the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum began
in 1989 as a regional institution for economic cooperation,
momentum for regionalism in Asia has gradually developed and led
to institutionalized regional progress.

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 - Asian regionalism moved forward steadily until the 1997 Asian
financial crisis. Regional countries were hit hard by the multiple
follow-on crises. Affected economies felt panic and were not able to
cope with serious challenges, and they discovered that existing
regional mechanisms were of little use in either protecting the
region or helping it recover.

- Asia’s economies are connected through trade, financial

transactions, direct investment technology, labor and tourist flows,
and other economic relationships. The fact that there exist patterns
of similarities are too great to escape scrutiny.

THE IMPERATIVE FOR ASIAN REGIONALISM

Generate productivity gains, new ideas, and competition that boost
economic growth and raise incomes across the world.

Contribute to the efficiency and stability of global financial markets by

making Asian capital markets stronger and safer and by maximizing
the productive use of Asian savings.

Diversify sources of global demand, helping to stabilize the world

economy and diminish the risks posed by global imbalances and
downturns in other major economies.

Provide leadership to help sustain open global trade and financial

systems.

Create regional mechanisms to manage health, safety, and

environmental issues better, and thus contribute to more effective
global solutions of these problems.

ASIAN REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
- established on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok,
Thailand with the signing of the ASEAN
Declaration (Bangkok Declaration)

- comprising ten (10) Southeast Asian

countries which seeks to promote
intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates
economic, political, security, military, educational and socio-

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 cultural integration amongst its members and other Asian
countries, as well as with the rest of the world.
- Founding Fathers of ASEAN: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines,
Singapore and Thailand.
other countries joined ASEAN
- Brunei Darussalam (January 7, 1984)
- Viet Nam (July 28, 1995)
- Lao PDR and Myanmar (July 23, 1997)
- Cambodia (April 30, 1999)

AIMS AND PURPOSES

(as set out in the ASEAN Declaration)
 To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural
development in the region through joint endeavors in the spirit of
equality and partnership in order to strengthen the foundation for a
prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian Nations.
 To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for
justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries of the
region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter.
 To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of
common interest in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific
and administrative fields;
 To provide assistance to each other in the form of training and
research facilities in the educational, professional, technical and
administrative spheres;
 To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilization of their
agriculture and industries, the expansion of their trade, including the
study of the problems of international commodity trade, the
improvement of their transportation and communications facilities
and the raising of the living standards of their peoples;
 To promote Southeast Asian studies; and
 To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing
international and regional organizations with similar aims and
purposes, and explore all avenues for even closer cooperation among
themselves.

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 FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
(as contained in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast
Asia (TAC) of 1976)
 Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial
integrity, and national identity of all nations;
 The right of every State to lead its national existence free from external
interference, subversion or coercion;
 Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another;
 Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner;
 Renunciation of the threat or use of force; and
 Effective cooperation among themselves.

ASEAN COMMUNITY
 ASEAN Vision 2020, adopted by ASEAN Leaders on the 30th
Anniversary of ASEAN, agreed on a shared vision of ASEAN as a
concert of Southeast Asian nations, outward looking, living in peace,
stability and prosperity, bonded together in partnership in dynamic
development and in a community of caring societies.
 At the 9th ASEAN Summit in 2003, the ASEAN Leaders resolved that
an ASEAN Community shall be established.
 At the 12th ASEAN Summit in January 2007, the Leaders affirmed
their strong commitment to accelerate the establishment of an ASEAN
Community by 2015 and signed the Cebu Declaration on the
Acceleration of the Establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015.
 The ASEAN Community is comprised of three pillars, namely the
ASEAN Political-Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community
and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. Each pillar has its own
Blueprint, and, together with the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI)
Strategic Framework and IAI Work Plan Phase II (2009-2015), they
form the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community 2009-2015.

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 APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation)
- a regional economic forum established in
1989 to leverage the growing
interdependence of the Asia-Pacific.

- APEC’s 21 members: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile,

People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Japan,
Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealland, Papua New
Guinea, Peru, The Philippines, The Russian Federation, Singapore,
Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States of America, Viet Nam.

 Aims to create greater prosperity for the people of the region

 Ensures that goods, services, investment, and people move easily
across borders.
 Works to help all residents of Asia-Pacific participate in the growing
economy.
 Implements initiatives to increase energy efficiency and promote
sustainable management of forest and marine resources.
 Members participate on the basis of open dialogue and respect for
views of all participants.
 All members have an equal say and decision-making is reached by
consensus.
 No binding commitments or treaty obligations
 Commitments are undertaken on a voluntary basis
 APEC’s structure is on both a “bottom-up” and “top-down” approach.
 Member economies jointly work towards the realization of free and
open trade and investmenet in the Asia-Pacific by 2020 and the
establishment of greater regional community to address the economic
and social dimensions of development – a commitment made by APEC
Leaders in 1994 known as the Bogor Goals.

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 EAS (East Asia Summit)
- A unique Leaders-led regional forum
held annually by, initially, 16 countries
in the East Asian, Southeast Asian, and
South Asian regions.

- Membership expanded to 18 countries

including Russia and the USA

- Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand,

Brunei Darussalam, Viet Nam, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Cambodia,
Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea,
Russian Federation, USA

- Established in 2005, EAS allows the principal players in the

Asia-Pacific region to discuss issues of common interest and
concern, in an open and transparent manner, at the highest
level.

- An initiative of ASEAN and is based on the premise of the

centrality of ASEAN.

- The concept of East Asia Grouping was first promoted in 1991

by then Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir bin Mohamad.

- The final report of the East Asian Study Group in 2002,

established by the ASEAN+3 countries, recommended EAS as an
ASEAN led development limited to ASEAN+3 countries.

- The ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) held in Vientiane on July

26, 2005 welcomed the participation of ASEAN, China, Japan,
Republic of Korea, Australia, India, and New Zealand in the first
EAS.

- USA and Russian Federation were formally included as

members of the EAS at the 6th EAS held in Bali, Indonesia on
November 19, 2011.

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  APT (ASEAN Plus Three / ASEAN+3)
- Began in December 1997 and
institutionalized in 1999 when the
Leaders issued a Joint Statement
on East Asia Corporation at their
third ASEAN+3 Summit in Manila.

- A forum that functions as a coordinator of co-operation between

the ASEAN and the three East Asian nations of China, South
Korea, and Japan.

- Addresses mutual issues and concerns in energy, security,

natural gas development, oil market studies, oil stockpiling, and
renewable energy.

ISSUES AND CONCERNS OF ASIAN REGIONALISM

 HEALTH AND SECURITY THREATS

- Makes the flow of people and goods more difficult and expensive.

 ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE
- Could result in radical changes in economic policies

 SOCIAL INSTABILITY
- Could generate tensions and uncertainty that overwhelm economic
progress

 CRITICISMS/DISPUTES
- Forums have not moved beyond its confidence-building mode to a
preventive diplomacy mode to solve disputes between countries.

 FAILURE OF REGIONAL TRUST-BUILDING

- Supposed to have been brought about by regional groups, is
reflected in the emergence of what seems to be a significant arms
race across the region.

 NO REGIONAL HUMANITARIAN AND DISASTER ASSISTANCE

MECHANISM
- Transnational threats continue to be dealt with on a bilateral basis
without significant multilateral action.

 HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL ISSUES

- Developing human rights promotion and protection mechanisms
lacks any enforcement authority.

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ASIAN REGIONALISM IN THE PHILIPPINES

The Philippines firmly believes in establishing close ties with its neighbors
and pursue friendship, amity and cooperation as embodied in its
Constitution. We remain to be steadfast to the ideals and vision of One
ASEAN and gives utmost importance to the tenets of economic integration,
the pursuit of peace in the region and socio-cultural cooperation

The Philippines remains to be an important founding member of ASEAN

having hosted several summits recently

Just a Quick Recap!

 Regionalism is the manifestation or expression of a common sense of

cultural identity and purpose combined with the creation and
implementation of institutions that express a particular identity and
shape collective action within a geographical region
 Asian Regionalism is essential not only for the growth of the region,
but also for the continuing development of economic and political
aspects in the global dimension.
 Asian regionalism has been criticized for not being able to settle long
standing conflicts.
 The ASEAN, EAS, APT and APEC are some of the more progressive
and enduring Asian regional blocs.

References:

 Coronacion, D.C., et.al. (2018). Convergence: A College Textbook in

Contemporary World. Chapter 5: Asian Regionalism pp. 91-104. Books
Atpb. Publishing Corp.

 About APEC. https://www.apec.org/About-Us/About-APEC

 ASEAN Plus Three – ASEAN: ONE VISION ONE IDENTITY ONE

COMMUNITY. https://asean.org/asean/external-relations/asean-3/

 East Assia Summit (EAS)- ASEAN:ONE VISION ONE IDENTITY ONE

COMMUNITY. https://asean.org/asean/external-relations/east-asia-
summit-eas/
 Overview – ASEAN: ONE VISION ONE IDENTITY ONE COMMUNITY.
https://asean.org/asean/about-asean/overview

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