FAITH BEA R.

ADOLFO
BSED 3-T

Bicol University College of Education

Daraga Albay
SUMMARY OF REPORT
(ASEAN INTEGRATION 2015)

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional grouping that

promotes economic, political, and security cooperation among its ten members,
established on August 8, 1967 with the signing of Bangkok Declaration by the
Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.The 10-member Association
of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, is arguably themost durable and successful
regional grouping in the developing world, it has contributed greatly to regional harmony
and prosperity.

Founding Member States:

•Indonesia •Singapore •Thailand

•Malaysia •Philippines

States which joined later:

•Brunei Darussalam (1984) •Viet Nam (1995) •Laos (1997)

• Myanmar (1997) •Cambodia (1999)

Dialogue Partners of ASEAN

 Japan *China * Republic of Korea * Canada

 European Union * Australia * New Zealand * India

 United States * Russia * United Nations Development Program

ASEAN is characterized by great internal diversity, generally high economic growth,

and areluctance to establish a strong supranational structure.

Beginning in 1976—with itsfive original members—ASEAN began to move toward

economic cooperation andintegration, initially with a focus on merchandise trade. In the
1990s, it added focus on services, investment, and labor. And in the past decade—now
including all ofSoutheast Asia—ASEAN broadened cooperation on macroeconomic and
financialissues, many of these together with its Northeast Asian neighbors—the “Plus 3”
ofthe People’s Republic of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. Members
adoptedwhat may appear to be formal preferential trade arrangements. But in practice
these are usually multilateralized. ASEAN informally embraces what is sometimes
termed “open regionalism.” However, there is little likelihood in the foreseeable future
thatthis will evolve into a deep EU-style economic integration behind a common
externaltrade regime, despite a commitment to forming an ASEAN Economic
Communitybeginning 2015.

In a region that had been plagued by conflict and divided by a diverse colonial past,
ASEAN has first and foremost forged diplomatic cohesion among its population of
almost 600 million people. Formed initially by leaders of five member countries,1the
1967 Bangkok Declaration was broad and general in its objectives.:

These included, among others

♦To accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the
region
♦ To promote regional peace and stability…
♦To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social,
cultural, technical, and administrative spheres.

Subsequently, it has evolved into a close-knit group holding around 700 meetings
each year on economic, political, cultural, educational, and security matters. ASEAN
has also been able to effectively project itself regionally and internationally through a
wide range of initiatives.

"ASEAN is an association, not an alliance and certainly not a military, but overall a cultural, social and
economicalliances"

            Probably the most significant difference between the two organizations (Asean
and European Union (EU)) is the scope of power the organization has among its
member nations. The European Union is more of a supranational organization that
stands above all nations. It is like a government consisted of several states that are
committed to a bigger entity. On the other hand, ASEAN is not above other nations but
is rather in the same level. Nations' leaders convene to come up with a resolution or so,
and the resolution serves as more a kind of guideline than an order. Another mark of
difference is ASEAN's respect of spontaneity and in contrast, EU's legality. ASEAN's
meetings are based on Ad hoc, need basis while EU follows a schedule. EU is more
institutionalized while ASEAN is not. The spontaneity that ASEAN emphasizes may
appeal to the member nations in that they gather only when there is a need to, but a
sense of formalization could be needed as well.

Four broad characteristics define ASEAN.

First, it is a region of great diversity, probably more so than any other group in the world.
Indeed, it’s economic, political, cultural, and linguistic diversity is greater than that of the
European Union, for example. This diversity was accentuated by colonial experiences,
with Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Singapore part of the British empire;
Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), and Viet Nam annexed
by the French; Indonesia ruled by the Dutch; the Philippines under first Spanish then
American rule; while Thailand was never formally colonized.2
Political structures are equally diverse, including freewheeling democracies (Cambodia,
Indonesia, Philippines), communist states (Lao PDR and Viet Nam), a constitutional
democracy with a highly influential monarchy (Thailand), heavily managed democracies
with one party in continuous rule since independence (Malaysia and Singapore), a
military-dominated authoritarian state (Myanmar), and an all-powerful sultanate (Brunei
Darussalam).

ASEAN includes one very wealthy nation (Singapore) alongside some of the
world’s poorest. The percapita income of the richest is about 80 times that of the
(imperfectly measured) poorest. It includes the world’s two largest archipelagic states
(Indonesia and the Philippines) together with Singapore’s city-state, and the tiny oil
sultanate of Brunei Darussalam. It includes the world’s fourth most populous nation
(Indonesia), three states with populations between 60 and 90 million people
(Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam), while Singapore and Lao PDR have less than
five million people; Brunei Darussalam less than half a million.
Second, most of the countries have achieved rapid economic development for most of
the past 25 years, and longer in some cases. Four of them – Indonesia, Malaysia,
Singapore, and Thailand – were classified by the World Bank (1993) as “miracle
“economies. Since the late 1980s, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Viet Nam have
successfully engineered a transition from planned to market economies with
significantly increased growth rates and sharp reductions in poverty. The region’s
economic dynamism and steadily expanding cooperation created a virtuous circle, with
increased .ASEAN’s regional harmony providing an enabling and more conducive
business environment. Nevertheless, ASEAN membership has been no guarantee of
economic success. Myanmar and the Philippines, for example, were touted in early
development economics literature as being prime for rapid economic development, yet
they have underperformed, the former disastrously so.

Third, ASEAN diplomacy and cooperation have been characterized by caution,

pragmatism, and consensus-based decision-making. The so-called “ASEAN Way” is
enshrined in noninterference in others internal affairs and can be characterized by
lowest-common-denominator decision-making. ASEAN leaders have deliberately
avoided creating a strong supranational regional institution, and the ASEAN Secretariat
has been deliberately underpowered, serving more as a diplomatic facilitator and
conference organizer rather than a strong EU-type agency. These characteristics are
both strengths and weaknesses: they explain ASEAN’s durability, but also limit
effectiveness and capacity for strong and decisive action.

Fourth—related to the third observation—ASEAN has never been, and probably will
never be, an EU type organization, nor even a NAFTA-type economic bloc. That is, in
the foreseeable future it is unlikely to adopt a common external trade regime, with
completely free commerce among member states.. In fact, although it appears in a
formal sense to be a quasi-preferential trading bloc, in practice, most of trade
liberalization has been multilateralized as part of unilateral domestic reforms
individually. Moreover, ASEAN is even less likely to develop formal mechanisms for
macroeconomic policy coordination, leading for example to a common currency or
central bank. ASEAN’s key challenge has from birth been to define a role for itself,
especially since Asia’s two giants, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and India, are
now growing faster than ASEAN in aggregate. Will it, as some pundits suggest, be
forever at the crossroads, institutionally unable to establish a stronger variant of
economic cooperation, and therefore confined to a loose association, a forum for
leaders only to discuss issues of regional interest?

Table 1: ASEAN - Major Dates

Date Event
8 August 1967 Bangkok Declaration establishes ASEAN.
23-24 February 1976 Major Bali Summit.
8 January 1984 Brunei Darussalam joins.
28 January 1992 AFTA/CEPT launched.
28 July 1995 Viet Nam joins.
23 July 1997 Lao PDR and Myanmar join.
15 December 1997 Vision 2020 to accelerate economic integration.
30 April 1999 Cambodia joins.
6-8 May 2000 ASEAN+3 announce Chiang Mai Initiative.

GOALS OF ASEAN

To accelerate the economic growth , social progress and cultural development in the region.
To promote regional peace, stability Southeast Asian studies and active collaboration and
mutual assistance on matters of common interest in economic, social, cultural , technical 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 greater utilization of their agriculture and industry trade,
improvement of their transportation and communications facilities and raising of the living of
the standards of their peoples

To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional
organizations.

Opportunities and Challenges of ASEAN

Opportunities

• ASEAN is observed to be an evolving powerhouse and it has been gaining a lot of

attraction with the international investors and enterprises.

• Amidst the growing economic uncertainty in the well-developed markets, the regional
association comprising largely of developing nations in brimming with opportunities in all
sectors.

•ASEAN’s collective voice has influence on the development of the emerging new regional
architecture—political, strategic, and economic.

•Its collective voice is listened to in the United Nations, World Trade Organization (WTO),
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) & Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM

Challenges and Constraints

 Diversity in political systems, economic and social conditions and ideologies

 Conflicting territorial claims

 Unresolved historical issues: result of wars and occupations during pre-colonial times

 Different alliances and character of relations with the Big Powers of the region

 Rivalry among member-states and among Dialogue Partners.

From ASEAN to the East Asian Summit and Beyond?

ASEAN has developed an elaborate set of extra-regional agreements, ranging

from general statements about the desirability of closer economic relations to what on
paper appears to be firm commitments to economic integration (see for example
Plummer and Chia eds, 2009). Until around 2000, the former prevailed, and involved
little more than official dialogues and sporadic business cooperation programs.
However, in recent years, ASEAN has made significant commercial policy commitments,
initially in the form of ASEAN+3 and more recently ASEAN+6. The latter has in turn
morphed into the ASEAN Economic Community and the East Asian Summit15. In
addition, there are various formal agreements with other economic communities, such
as the AFTA-CER, involving ASEAN and Australia-New Zealand, and ASEAN+1
agreements, where ASEAN may negotiate with a particular country (or bloc) on a
specific issue. ASEAN's regional economic integration efforts are geared toward
creating an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). The ASEAN Leaders had originally
intended to create the AEC by 2020, but in early 2007 they advanced the deadline to
2015. The AEC envisions ASEAN as a competitive economic region with a single market
and production base. At the 13th ASEAN Summit held in Singapore on 20 November
2007, ASEAN Leaders adopted the ASEAN Economic Blueprint, to serve as a guide for
establishing the AEC. The blueprint contains 17 “core elements” and 176 priority
actions, to be implemented within a Strategic Schedule of four periods (2008–2009,
2010–2011, 2012–2013, and 2014–2015). Given the diversity within ASEAN, and
sensitivities regarding different issues\sectors, it was agreed that liberalization of goods,
capital, and (skilled) labor flows proceed at different speeds according to member
countries’ readiness, national policy objectives, and levels of economic and financial
development.

ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)

The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is envisioned to be the realization of ASEAN

economic integration by 2015. To guide the establishment of the AEC 2015, the AEC
Blueprint was adopted in 2012 and serves as a master plan by underlining a strategic
schedule of priority actions to be undertaken by the ASEAN Member States. The
establishment of the AEC 2015 is being pursued under four pillars.

• The first pillar envisions ASEAN as a single market and production base, one where
goods, services, investments, and skilled labour are able to flow freely, and capital,
freer, within the region. It is also enhanced by cooperation in the areas of customs,
standards and conformity assessment, priority integration sectors, and in food,
agriculture and forestry.

• The AEC, through its second pillar, aims to form an economic region that is highly
competitive. This is done by fostering a culture of fair competition; consumer
protection; stimulating and promoting innovation; and providing regional public
infrastructure through multimodal transport infrastructure linkages, connectivity and
energy cooperation.

• The third pillar builds on the region’s aspiration for an AEC that is inclusive and
equitable. It focuses on efforts to support small and medium enterprises, as well as the
newer ASEAN member states, to participate effectively and gainfully in the integration
process.

• Finally, recognizing that ASEAN operates in an increasingly global environment, the

fourth pillar focuses on developing and adopting a coherent approach towards external
economic relations, and enhancing participation in global supply networks.

Several initiatives have been undertaken to bring the region closer to the goals of the
AEC 2015. The ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), in force since May 2010, has
led to significant tariff elimination among ASEAN countries, and has contributed to the
 on-going efforts to address non-tariff measures in the region. The ASEAN Framework
Agreement on Services (AFAS), signed in 1995, has eased restrictions to cross‐border
services trade in various sectors such as business services, construction, health care,
maritime transport, telecommunications, tourism, and financial services. The ASEAN
Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA), which came into effect in March 2012,
articulates member states’ commitments in terms of liberalizing and protecting cross-
border investment activities while embracing international best practices in the
treatment of foreign investors and investment.

ASEAN CHARTER

APSC Blueprint AEC Blueprint ASCC Blueprint

• Political Development, • Single Market & Production Human Development,

Protection Base,
• Social Welfare,
• Promotion of Human • Competitive Economic
Right, Region, • Poverty Alleviation,

• ASEAN Identity Building,

• Promote Cohesive, • Equitable Economic
Peaceful and Development • Environmental Sustainability
Resilient Region • Integration into the Global
Economy

ASEAN Political-Security Community

• Upholds a people-oriented ASEAN in which all sectors of society, regardless of

gender, race, religion, language, or social and cultural background, are encouraged to
participate in, and benefit from, the process of ASEAN integration.

ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community


An ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community that is inclusive, sustainable, resilient,
dynamic and engages and benefits the people.
ASEAN Economic Community

• An ASEAN Economic Community for 2016-2025 (AEC 2025) that includes an

integrated and highly cohesive economy, a competitive, innovative and dynamic
ASEAN, a resilient, inclusive and people-oriented, people centred ASEAN, enhanced
the sectoral integration and cooperation and a global ASEAN.

The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)

-was established in 1994. It comprises 27 members: the 10 ASEAN member states

(Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand
and Vietnam), the 10 ASEAN dialogue partners (Australia, Canada, China, the
European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the
United States), one ASEAN observer (Papua New Guinea), as well as the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, Timor-Leste, Bangladesh and Sri
Lanka.

•The ARF is a key forum for security dialogue in Asia, complementing the various
bilateral alliances and dialogues. It provides a setting in which members can discuss
current regional security issues and develop cooperative measures to enhance peace
and security in the region.

•The ARF is characterized by consensus decision making and frank dialogue. The 1995
ARF Concept Paper set out a three-stage, evolutionary approach to the ARF's
development, moving from confidence-building to preventive diplomacy and, in the long
term, towards a conflict resolution capability.

ASEAN SECRETARIAT

-established on February 24,1976 by the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN.

ASEC VISION

By 2015 ASEC will be the nerve centre of strong and confident of ASEAN Community
that is globally respected for acting in full compliance with its Charter and in the best
interest of its people.

The Secretary-General

The Secretary-General of ASEAN is appointed by the ASEAN Summit for a non-

renewable term of office of five years, selected from among nationals of the ASEAN
Member States based on alphabetical rotation.

The Secretary-General of ASEAN 2013 -2017 is H.E. Le Luong Minh from Viet Nam.

Deputy Secretaries-General of ASEAN

The Secretary-General of ASEAN shall be assisted by four Deputy Secretaries-General (DSGs).

The four DSGs shall be of different nationalities from the Secretary-General and shall come
from four different ASEAN Member States. The DSGs shall comprise:

- two DSGs are nominated by Member States on a rotational basis for a non-
renewable term of three years, and

- two DSGs are openly recruited based on merit for a term of three years, which
may be renewed for another three years.

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political Security Community

The DSG APSC supports SG in implementing the APSC Blueprint and strengthening
relations with ASEAN Dialogue Partners and the international community.

Current Deputy Secretary- General of ASPC – U Nyan Lynn from Myanmar.

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community

The DSG ASCC supports SG in implementing the ASCC Blueprint. He oversees the
implementation of projects under ASCC that focus on forging a common identity and
building a caring and sharing society which is inclusive and where the well-being,
livelihood and welfare of the peoples are enhanced.

Current Deputy Secretary-General of AEC- Dr. Lim Hong Hin from Brunei Darussalam

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community

The DSG ASCC supports SG in implementing the ASCC Blueprint. He oversees the
implementation of projects under ASCC that focus on forging a common identity and
building a caring and sharing society which is inclusive and where the well-being,
livelihood and welfare of the peoples are enhanced.

Current Deputy Secretary-General of ASCC- Alicia Dela Rosa Bala from Philippines

CONCLUSION

The ASEAN Community is a place where all Member State come together to build a
more stable, peaceful and prosperous life for everyone.
The Secretary-General of ASEAN is appointed by the ASEAN Summit for a non-renewable term of office
of five years, selected from among nationals of the ASEAN Member States based on alphabetical
rotation.

The Secretary-General of ASEAN 2013 -2017 is H.E. Le Luong Minh from Viet Nam.

Deputy Secretaries-General of ASEAN

Home/ASEAN/ASEAN Secretariat/Deputy Secretaries-General of ASEAN

The Secretary-General of ASEAN shall be assisted by four Deputy Secretaries-General (DSGs). The four
DSGs shall be of different nationalities from the Secretary-General and shall come from four different
ASEAN Member States. The DSGs shall comprise:

 two DSGs are nominated by Member States on a rotational basis for a non-renewable term of
three years, and
 two DSGs are openly recruited based on merit for a term of three years, which may be renewed
for another three years.

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political Security Community

The DSG APSC supports SG in implementing the APSC Blueprint and strengthening relations with
ASEAN Dialogue Partners and the international community.

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Economic Community

The DSG AEC assists SG in supporting the realisation of the AEC by 2015. He oversees the
implementation of the AEC Blueprint towards the establishment of a Single Market and Production Base,
a competitive economic region characterised by equitable development, and a region that is fully plugged
into the global economy.

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community

The DSG ASCC supports SG in implementing the ASCC Blueprint. He oversees the implementation of
projects under ASCC that focus on forging a common identity and building a caring and sharing society
which is inclusive and where the well-being, livelihood and welfare of the peoples are enhanced.

Click here for CV of DSG of ASEAN for ASCC, H.E. VongthepArthakaivalvatee (date of

commencement: 12 October 2015).

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs

The DSG CCA assists SG and is responsible for providing strategic direction and guidance on research,
public affairs and outreach programmes for the ASEAN Community. He is also responsible for the
implementation of corporate support functions, including core corporate services and ensuring clear
prioritisation and alignment to overall policy objectives. The DSG CCA will ensure that ASEAN Secretariat
has in place the systems, procedures and resources required to fulfil its mandate.

Ms. Alicia Dela Rosa Bala from Philippines assumed her duty as Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for
ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) this week at the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta.

DSG Alicia Bala will assist the Secretary-General of ASEAN in providing leadership and managing ASCC
Department covering Divisions of Culture Information; Education, Youth Training; Social Welfare, Women,
Labor Migrant Workers; Environment; Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance; Health and
Communicable Diseases; and Science Technology. She will oversee the operation and monitor
implementation of the Charter, and the ASEC Blueprint on these fronts—and provide strategic advice to
the Secretary-General in areas under her purviews.

DSG Alicia Bala, nominated by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, will serve a three-year
term succeeding DSG Dato’ Misran Karmain of Malaysia. DSG Alicia Bala’s appointment was approved
by ASEAN Coordinating Council through ad-referendum. Previously, she was Undersecretary for the
Department of Social Welfare and Development Central Office of the Philippines (2005-2012). A graduate
of the University of the Philippines and Centro Escolar University, DSG Alicia Balaspecialises in social
work studies.