ASEAN

Past Papers
 Association of the South East Asian Nation (ASEAN) is a success story
of regional organization. What lessons SAARC can learn from the
experience of ASEAN? 2007
Members
Candidate Member and observer

 East Timor
(Candidate)

 Papua New Guinea

(Observer)
ASEAN Dialogue Partners
1O Dialogue Partners
Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, The Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the Russian

Federation, the United States, and the European Union, as well as with the United
Nations
Frameworks
East Asia Summit (EAS): The EAS serves as a forum for strategic dialogue amongst the

ten ASEAN Member States and its key partners, namely, Australia, China, India, Japan,
the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the Russian Federation and the United States

ASEAN plus one (Japan, Korea, China, Australia, New Zealand, India)

ASEAN plus three (China, Japan and the Republic of Korea)

ASEAN also has sectoral dialogue relations with Pakistan and Norway.
Introduction
 ASA - 31 July 1961 with Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand as members
 Fallen short of its goals
 In June 1966, discussions to include more members
 By May 1967, plans replaced by a proposal to form a new grouping
 ASEAN established on 8th August 1967 (Bangkok Declaration)
 ASEAN is a 10-member international body
 ASAEN is spanning over an area of 4.4 million square kilometers, a
population of over 650 million, and a GDP exceeding $2.9 trillion
 In 2020, total GDP of ASEAN states amounted to 3.08 $trillion
 ASEAN is currently 8th largest eco globally
Stage of Development
 First 10 years (1967-1976): establishment, dialogue partners
 The next 20 years: (1977-1997): expansion - Brunei (1984);
Vietnam (1995); Lao PDR and Myanmar (1997); and Cambodia (1999)
 The next 10 years: (1998-2007): vision, formalization
 The next 7 years: (2008-2015): Community building
Objectives
 Resolution of Intra-regional differences
 Economic growth
 Cultural development
 Promote regional peace and stability
 Social progress
 Collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interests
ASEAN’s Fundamental Principles
1976- The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC)

1.Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial

integrity, and national identity of all nations
2. Right of every State to lead its national existence free from external

interference, subversion or coercion

3.Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another

4.Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner

5.Renunciation of the threat or use of force

6. Effective cooperation among themselves

Secretariat and Organization Structure
 Accomplishments
 Connecting within ASEAN and Beyond
 Transport Corridor - Trade and Transport Facilitation Corridor
 Economic Corridor and Spatial Development to promote inclusive growth
 ASEAN University Network – 1995 (13-30 Universities)
 Financial integration
 Reallocation of factors of production across sectors of diff productivity
 Diversification, upgrading, deepening of new product methods, processes
 ASEAN eco cooperation covers areas; Trade, investment, industry,
services, finance, agriculture, forestry, energy, transportation and comm,
small and medium enterprises, and tourism
Accomplishments
Urbanization
Social changes

Single Aviation Market

ACCMSME – backbone of ASEAN economies

Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise

MSMEs account for 99% of businesses, 80% of workforce in ASEAN

2019, intra-ASEAN trade - 22.5% of total trade in region

Chinese largest trading partner (skyrocketed by 85 times in 30 years

2020 - Third-largest trading partner outside Europe of the EU - 2020

Association of SEA Institutions of Higher learning(ASAIHL)

Nature parks opened to protect region's natural treasure

Multi-sport event held for disabled athletes

ASEAN Scholarship
Accomplishments
 Emerged in the last 3 decades as attractive manufacturing locations
 Diversify supply chains and production capabilities by expanding
businesses manufacturing presence in ASEAN
 US-China trade war led many companies to shift operations from
China to avoid financial losses from tariffs and business instability
 Protectionist measures and geopolitical animosities - structural
reconfiguration of global supply chains; alternative sourcing,
production activities and transport modes
 Vietnam: advancing high-tech manufacturing to move up value chain
(low wages & FTAs, pact with EU to help businesses lower their cost
 New Int. Land Sea Corridor between Singapore and China
 Container volume to US -increased by 16.1% in 2020, compared with
just 2.4% for containers from China
 Jan 2021, It accounted for 23.3% of the US-bound shipping market
External Relations
Strengthening ASEAN Centrality in Regional Cooperation and
Community Building
 Two-pronged approach on ASEAN Centrality :- acceleration of
ASEAN integration & intensification of ASEAN’s external relations

Promoting Enhanced Ties with External Parties

 Dialogue partnership :Strategic, Enhanced and Comprehensive relations
 Practical cooperation:- projects and programmes with 70 Non-ASEAN

 Strengthening Consultations and Cooperation on Multilateral

Issues of Common Concern
 ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations (Bali Concord III)
India-ASEAN relationship
India is actively contributing to ASEAN +1
ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the EAST ASIA Summit (EAS), and

ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Plus

Both have institutionalized annual summits, ministerial consultations; and

nearly 25 mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation

Challenges
 New Supply chain challenges
 ASEAN - varying degrees of readiness in preparing for Industry 4.0
 Building MSME ecosystem in region requires continuous reinvention
 Tackling informality is important for ASEAN
 Member states are developing a package of policies promoting
formalization, enhancing the tax system and labor regulations & skills
 ILO: 68 % employed population in AP region are in informal economy
 Indonesia - largest workforce in the informal sector
 Comprising 60% of the total workforce, more than 64 mn people
 Better integration of informal sector with formal economy is
necessary for creation of a more active labor market, and
competitiveness of local businesses – ASEAN SME Academy
Challenges
 MSMEs - globalization, tech advances, making them unsustainable
 Limited access to info on the regional and international markets
 Technical know-how of expanding their business overseas
 Export volume and revenue generated by regional MSMEs account on
average for only 10 to 30% for each country
 Climate changes: implications of food security
 Problem of development divide
 Maritime Security (freedom of navigation for regional maritime trade)
 Challenges Related to 4th Industrial Revolution
 Disputes in South China Sea
 Environmental Protection issues (water management, land
degradation, deforestation, climate change)
Challenges

Marine debris, river water pollution and transboundary haze

Refugees rehabilitation

Cyber-Related Crimes

Political turmoil in Myanmar

ASEAN summit in April - five-point plan; end to violence and the

appointment of a special envoy to lead diplomatic initiatives

Washington wants to reassure SEA of its commitment to the region

Blinken addressed Beijing’s coercion against ASEAN (S. China Sea)

Beijing’s claim over the entire waterway

ASEAN and Pakistan
 Pakistan is a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN (July 1993)
 1954, joined a Southeast Asia-focused defense treaty (Manila pact)
 Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), Pak was only outsider
 After 1977, region has never been in Pak diplomatic Agenda
ASEAN and Pakistan

In 2003, launched ‘Vision East Asia policy’ to boost ties with SE Asia
To raise profile in SEA via improved diplomatic/ official interactions

More competitive in trade and offer value as a bilateral partner\Ties

with Malaysia and Indonesia; In 2008, FTA signed with Malaysia

 2012 -PTA (In 2015, 700m$ to 2.18bn$)

Manufacturing products or offering military expertise

ASEAN also face Islamic militancy - Pak can offer up its expertise

2005 - Declaration for cooperation to combat terrorism

Pushing for a region-wide FTA, becoming full dialogue member

Turn to the Pak diaspora in Southeast Asia

ASEAN and Pakistan
 Engage established Pak communities in representing interests in
ASEAN’s policy-making circles
 No need to bring the country’s conflict with India to ASEAN
 Efforts to expand its economic and diplomatic base in Southeast Asia
 Hardly any policy institutes address Pak studies in Southeast Asia
 In Pakistan – SE Asia is seen as a non-traditional trading region
  Pakistan’s constitutional identity as an Islamic republic
 Ties with Indonesia and Malaysia
 Pak participated in 17th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) (Nov 27-30)
 President Dr Arif Alvi proposed establishing a “trade triangle” among
Pakistan, China and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
to maximise the intra-regional business opportunities
Sources
 https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/11/whats-weve-achieved-
and-the-challenges-ahead-50-years-of-asean/
 https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2154823/new-supply-chain-
challenges
 https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2160831/the-long-
wait-for-asean-is-reaching-its-limits
Shanghai Cooperation Org (SCO)
Past Papers
 What are the opportunities and challenges for Pakistan as one of the
new members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)?2018

 “Pakistan provides the natural link between the SCO states to connect
the Eurasian heartland with the Arabian Sea and South Asia.”
Substantiate Pakistan’s claim for the membership of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization in view of the above mentioned statement
2010

 Why Pakistan is desperately seeking full-fledged membership in the

Shanghai Cooperation Organization? 2008
Past Papers

China, India and Pakistan are three Nuclear States in the Asian
Continent. Is this a potential threat or strength for the continent? 2007

 Shanghai Cooperation Organization 2001

Members + Observers + Dialogue Partners
Importance of SCO
Security challenges of the post-Cold War era
Loosing Border defense among CIS– one reason for SCO establishment

Converging policies of China and Russia founded the forum

Platform for Russia & China to manage their periphery security environment

To neutralize common threats to nat security and territorial integrity -3 evils

It was preceded by the Shanghai Five mechanism

In 1996 & 1997, head of five states launched Shangai Five

Turkmenistan - only CA state not member of SCO (Neutrality)

Observer of the UN General Assembly

Iran has observer status, applied twice for full membership (2006-15)

A country under UN sanctions could not be admitted

Uzbukistan and Tajisktan are no more opposing Iran admission

Iran’s better transportation, access to Persian Gulf can help strengthing and

developing communication infrastructure

Importance of SCO
SCO represents one half of the world population (largest regional org)
Biggest regional org in terms of its size and population
Covers 60 percent of the total territories of Euro-Asia (23% land mass)

25% of (GDP) of the entire world - total worth of GDP is $14.5 trillion

Permanent & non-permanent members - largest energy producers & consumers

- potential to balance power in a multipolar world

It’s weight inside Int. Orgs become important; Four Nuclear powers

(additional deterrent to maintain global strategic balance of power)

Currently holds 3 seats out of five in BRICS, Four in G 20, two in P5

Issues pertaining to Sino-Indian and Indo-pak can be resolved

Eliminating the menace of separatism, terrorism and extremism

Regional Anti- Terrorism Structure(RATS); Trainings & drills, Intelligence sharing

to counter terrorism (CBMs between India-Pak)

Countering drug production & trafficking
Charter
Charter signed during St. Petersburg SCO Heads of State meeting - June 2002
It entered into force on 19 September 2003

This is the fundamental statutory document which outlines

 The Organization's Goals – Principles – Structure - Core Activities

The SCO's official languages are Russian and Chinese

The Heads of State Council (HSC) -supreme decision-making body in the SCO;
the SCO-CHS adopts documents and decisions that provide policy guidelines for
determining priorities and major areas of activities of the organization
The SCO Heads of Government Council (HGC) meets once a year to discuss the

organisation's multilateral cooperation strategy and priority areas, to resolve

current important economic and other cooperation issues, and also to approve
the organisation's annual budget
Council of National Coordinators - acts as the SCO coordination mechanism
Organogram of SCO
SCO Goals (Multi-sectoral Agenda)

 Transnational radicalism…stabalizing regional regimes… Military cooperation

 Strengthening mutual trust among member states; good neighbor lines
 Promoting effective cooperation in politics, trade, the economy, and
other areas; environmental protection, transport & technology, energy
 Making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability
in the region, military cooperation
 Humanitarian assistance
 Polycentric World order (conformity to Int. Law)
 Establishment of democratic, fair and rational new int pol and eco order
 Combating three evils-terrorism, separatism, and extremism
 Regional economic linkages (resolving border issues)
 SCO’s Programme of Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation
(2003), Interbank Consortium (2005) and Business Council (2006), Action
Plan in Support of Regional Economic Cooperation (2006), SCO
Development Bank and Development Fund Initiatives (2012)
SCO Goals (Multi-sectoral Agenda)
• Concentrates on cyber-warfare (cyber terrorism)
• Dissemination of misinformation – national security threat
• Favourable Conditions for International Road Transportation
• Mutually-beneficial trade flow - E.E to Russian east coast and China
• Multilateral comprehensive development of regional infrastructure
and integrated syst of road transportation
 Cultural Dialogue as a Preventive Measure against Threats to Security
 Common humanistic values and aspirations, to reduce xenophobia,
religious and ethnic intolerance, discrimination based on ethnic and
racial background
 Principle SCO goal of bringing civilizations together
 Stave off Clash of Civilizations
Importance of SCO
 Broad Int. cooperation - stimulus to world eco recovery (AIIB)
 Reviewing ‘Great Game’ –contain US influence in the CARs
 BRI project (China ingresses into CARs markets)
 China’s region specific interests; Xingjian Region (Uighurs)
 Russia to maintain traditional influence in CARs
 Military Cooperation; joint drills
 Eco Development - Means of Preventing Emergence of New Sources
of Challenges and Threats to Security
 Chinese Eco might, Russian military strength, CARS oil & gas
reservoirs
 Strengthen the Socio-economic power, geo-political and geo-strategic
participation of the SCO in the regional and international politics
Core permanent body—RATS
Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure

 Core permanent body—the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS)

 RATS efficacy - prevent 20 terrorist attacks while still in the planning
stages, averted 650 crimes of terrorist and extremist nature, and
neutralized 440 terrorist training camps and 1,700 members of
international terrorist organizations (2011-2015)
 More than 2,700 members of illicit armed groups, their accomplices,
and persons suspected in criminal activity were arrested -213
associated with terrorist/extremist orgs were extradited
 180 suspects were placed on wanted lists, 600 undercover bases with
weaponry were revealed, and more than 3,250 improvised explosive
devices were confiscated, along with 10,000 weapons, approximately
450,000 pieces of ammunition, and more than 52 tons of explosives
SCO Policy
SCO & Other Organizations
 SCO & ASEAN
 SCO & SAARC
 SCO & ECO
 SCO & OIC
 SCO & Commonwealth of Independent States
 SCO & EU
 SCO & UN-adherence to the UN Charter
 SCO & BRICS
 SCO Vs NATO
SCO and Pakistan
 Pakistan was an Observer since 2005
 The historical meeting of the Heads of State Council of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization was held on 8-9 June 2017 in Astana

 On the meeting the status of a full member of the Organization was
granted to the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

 The Shanghai-Cooperation Organization (SCO) has become a matter of

sheer significance for Pakistan
 The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor (CPEC). The importance of Pakistan lies in its strategic location
 it is expected to become a hub of regional connectivity
SCO and Pakistan

 In terms of SCO, based on Pakistan's experience, the country can

offer consultation in anti-terror policies for the success of BRI
 SCO can achieve its objectives of security and connectivity with the
participation of Pakistan
 Relations with China and Russia strengthen
 CPEC as a flagship project of BRI

 But casting doubts on CPEC projects and involving others in CPEC

projects may erode China’s confidence

 Pakistan has not been isolated diplomatically
SCO and Pakistan
 Focus of SCO gradually shifting towards economic linkages and development
 Chinese 2004 urged countries to work for free trade among member states
 In 2018 -trade procedure should be simplified for intra-regional trade
 2019 declaration -accelerate efforts for wider eco co-op and enhancing trade
 China increased its trade with SCO members in the past few years
 At present, the total trade of China with SCO members is worth $337 billion
 China’s major trade partners- Russia ($106.65bn) and India with $95.87 billion
 India is the biggest export destination with shipments worth $77.02 billion
 Russia is the biggest exporter to China in SCO group with exports of $58.58 bn
 SCO’s two leading members - China and Russia - have presented their visions of
future economic development and trade through the Belt and Road Initiative
(BRI) and Eurasia Economic Union (EEU)
 These 2 initiatives present excellent prospects for eco development for Pak
Pak & SCO - Forging links with SCO bloc
Excellent opportunity to revive its economy with the help of the regional bloc
Pakistan will have to devise a relevant policy - First, learn from the past

Mistakes - ignore SCO courtiers, miss CA dynamics, reliance on western markets

Recent years - increasingly focused on Chinese market

Lacks any major policy for developing eco and trade ties with Russia and CARs

Central Asia provides an opportunity for two-way trade

Pak has potential to export finished products and some agricultural commodities

On the other hand, it can benefit from energy and mineral resources of CA

Pakistan must study markets & governance structure of SCO member countries

Pakistan can get trade and economic benefits from SCO

Establishing a balance between China and US

Improving Pakistan’s image

Can provide access to CARS to Indian Ocean through gawadar

Opportunity to advance in defense sector

Afghan Crisis -- Resolution of Afghan crisis

Pak & SCO - Forging links with SCO bloc
 Russia can help develop scientific knowledge and adopt new technologies
 Benefit from the Russian market too - Russia is interested in using Gwadar Port
 Slim trade with Russia - exports $157 million and imports are worth $375 million
 SCO and China provided an opportunity to break the ice –now working together
 Pak Russia agreement - 1,100-km gas pipeline of $2.5-3 billion by end of 2023
 Current trade statistics are very poor with SCO members, except for China
 Exports to Uzbekistan: worth only $17 mn and imports are valued $33.31 million
 Kazakhstan - exports and imports stand at merely $86 mn and $33.11 mn
 Tajikistan-exports stand at only $94.06 mn and imports are valued at $33.45 mn
 Kyrgyzstan- exports worth $15.11 million and imports stand at $0.121 million
 India -bilateral trade is very low compared to the potential
 Imports from India ($1.8 bn) exports($350) million -huge volume of illegal trade
 China issues with India - trade volume is approaching staggering $100 bn
 China ALO developed trade linkages with Taiwan despite massive differences
Pak & SCO - Forging links with SCO bloc
 Pak tilt toward the Western hemisphere
 Vast geostrategic opportunities to revisit and diversify its foreign policy
 No significant economic ties with CARs for 25 years due to the Afg behavior
 Enhance its military and economic relations with these countries
 Russian Support – NSG, Kashmir, technical assistance,
 inexpensive and nearer port to access the oil-rich Middle East, mineral-rich
Africa and economically-integrated Europe
 Regional Trade & energy corridor (Deep seaport near Strait of Hormuz, ME)
 Improve dilapidated road & rail infrastructure - connect to Eurasian belt
 Embark on industrialization and earn billions of dollars as transit fees
 CA and Russian oil and gas reserves - to mitigate acute energy crisis
 Kazakistan; recoverable coal (33.6bn tonnes) 12% of world total uranium
 Uranium to produce inexpensive and clean nuclear energy
 Two-pronged approach - ruin drug cultivation in Afg, bust drug cartels
 Joint naval anti-narcotics drives in Arabian Sea against the drug smuggling
 Pak & SCO - Forging links with SCO bloc
 Pakistan role in Afghanistan’s reconciliation and rehabilitation
 Afghan mineral resources worth over $3 trillion
 Chi and Russian tech expertise & fiscal resources to help Afghanistan benefit from
its natural resources and play a bigger role in Afghan reconciliation
 that in order to get connected with CARs, India cannot bypass Pakistan
 SCO - solution to the energy crisis of Pakistan - energy producers & consumers
 Manage its resources and ensure sustainable development
 Access to CA markets – easy to increase frequency of import and export
 Persuade SCO members to join CPEC - become part of int trade through sea
 After the completion of CPEC, would be practicable to increase volume of trade
 Networking through the SCO will reduce hostility in relations
 SCO –a handy diplomatic lubricant - can steer states on one page
 India-military drill in Sep-18(CBMs, Projects of mutual benefits (TAPI, IPI)
 Unlike SAARC –not 2 dominant poles rather work with other powers
 China and Russia’s influence on both can help to improve their relations
20th SCO's Heads of State Summit
 IK - business community of Tajikistan to invest in Pak -Pak-Taj Business Forum
 Afghan Issue
 Afghanistan -SCO observer and shares borders with several member states
 Future of Afghan worries SCO members, and in particular, bordering
countries
 Possibilities for integration in the SCO eco projects for future Afghan govt
 SCO is expected to come up with new mechanisms -anti-narcotics center
 SCO Council of Heads of State meeting- after Taliban announced interim govt
Geopolitical impacts of SCO on Pakistan
 Bridge gap between India and Pak
 Rekindle relationship with Russia
 Utilization of SCO platform to counter menace of terrorism
 To counter US-India bonhomie
 Exhaust multilateral
 Geo-economics Impacts
 Energy-cum trade corridor - connect CA with the Arabian Sea
 Gulf of Aden also known as the Gulf of Berbera is a deepwater gulf between
Yemen to the north, the Arabian Sea to the east, Djibouti to the west
 Pak regional trade & transit route
 Giving access landlocked CARS to Indian Ocean
 Extraction of natural resources from CARs
 Nearness to the strait of Hormuz (export of 30bn barrel oil daily)
Geo-strategic impacts of SCO on Pakistan
 Junction of South Asia, West Asia and Central Asia
 Suitably positioned to contribute to realizing SCO objectives
 Military Cooperation, Intelligence sharing, Counter-terrorism drills
 Russia and Pak joint military exercise called ‘Friendship-2020’ at the
Tarbela special operations training ground (Nov 2020)
 The four Mi-35M heavy attack helicopters given to Pak (April 2018)
 Pak regional policies are in consonance with its long term interests
 Post Afghan peace process; benefit from regional donors
Asian Century
 Shift of the horizon of global politics
 Establishment of AIIB to compete with ADB
Belt Road Intitiative (BRI) Map
Challenges to SCO
 Indo-Pak rivalry and their mutual mistrust
 Sino-Indian Standoff
 Washington sees SCO as a counter force to NATO like that of WARSAW
pact (NATO of the EAST)
SCO Amid Pandemic
 Made the principle decision to conduct bilateral trade and investment
and issue bonds in local and national currencies instead of US dollars
 Virtual SCO moot 2020; Heads of states and SG of UN participated
 IK said “The SCO forum can play a pivotal role in enhancing economic
collaboration with support from Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Belt,
and Road Initiative (BRI). “China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the
flagship BRI project, is poised to play a vital role” in regional development.

 6 points raised by PM Khan

 Pakistan PM Khan proposed six strategies to galvanize efforts through
the SCO summit for better connectivity and development:
 1. Create an SCO knowledge bank of best practices to fight COVID-19
to guide countries through the second wave and beyond.
SCO Amid Pandemic
 2. SCO action plan to mitigate the effects of adverse effects on
economy of coronavirus
 3. COVID-19 vaccine must be viewed as a global public good and
should be affordable and accessible to all.
 4. More measures by G20 to meet common challenges like climate
change, widening inequality within and among nations, poverty,
disease, hunger and the illicit movement of money from developing
world to offshore bank accounts to rich countries.
 5. Formulate a multi-year SCO youth strategy with a focus on building
partnerships among educational institutions.
 6. Develop SCO partnership for technology offering scholarships,
exchange programs for youth in the scientific field.
SCO Amid Pandemic
 PM Khan’s proposal for a multi-year SCO Youth Strategy focusing on
building partnerships among educational institutions, offering
scholarships and exchange programmes for youth in the scientific field.
 https://tribune.com.pk/article/97430/why-uzbekistan-is-at-the-centre-
of-pakistans-vision-central-asia
 https://tribune.com.pk/story/2310689/pakistan-uzbekistan-set-up-
strategic-partnership
 https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2021/07/25/the-sco-and-the-
strategic-perspective-of-central-asia/
 https://jamestown.org/program/iran-and-the-sco-continued-obstacles-
to-full-membership/
 https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/464001/Iran-to-join-Shanghai-
Cooperation-Organization