Chapter 5: Conflict and Conflict Resolution in Southeast Asia
(F) Day of the week: Wednesday Class: IS210 Created Time: April 1, 2020 2:38 PM Database: Class Notes Database Date: April 1, 2020 2:38 PM Days Till Date: Passed Last Edited Time: June 9, 2021 10:42 AM Type: Lecture
ARF is ASEAN’s mechanism for solving regional conflicts
I. The ASEAN Way
An unwritten norm to guide members using accepted common behavior
To avoid conflicts
2 Strategic Purpose
- Not let ASEAN bilateral disputes affect ASEAN relations
The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC)
‘ASEAN Way’ seek win win situation using informal diplomacy
- Timeline of introduction of mechanisms
- Suharto time: empat mata (four eyes) consensus
- 1990s: constructive engagement…? (inactive)
- 2000s: flexible engagement, failed in Myanmar (inactive)
II. The South China Sea Conflict
Maritime and geographical area of the Spratly Island, 400,000 km2
Claimants
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China
-
Taiwan
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Malaysia
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Brunei
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Vietnam
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Phillipines
ASEAN relied on UNCLOS, 100 km in sea.
China claimed historical claimant (Han Dynasty)
Declaration of Conduct
signed in 2002
a declaration with no binding obligation ⇒ resulted in no resolution
Code of Conduct
Claimants have not agreed on the regulation with binding obligations
China would not accept the bindingness.
III. The ASEAN Regional Forum
created 15th July 1994
ad hoc: no permanent formal institution
Members (27)
- 10 ASEAN members
- 10 formal dialogue partners
- 7 informal dialogue partners
Objective
- to foster dialogue on issues of regional security to promote confidence and transparency between its members
- to engage with China and manage China’s involvement in SEA
- a cost-free forum with no obligation ⇒ use principles of consensus and non-interference ⇒ becomes ‘talk shop’
- Part of centrality role, but is not effective in producing result
Activities
- 2 AMM meetings (Foreign & Defence)
Effective in
- confidence building measures
- preventive diplomacy
- approaches to conflict