FINAL TEST PAD381

QUESTION 1

ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) was established in 1994 at Bangkok after the end of Cold War era.
The first ARF meeting was held in Bangkok on July 25,1994. The ARF acts as a multilateral consultation
forum to promote preventive diplomacy and build trust among countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

There are a few limitations of the ARF. Firstly, manage shifts in power relations following rapid
economic growth. In order to successfully preserve and enhance the peace and prosperity of the region,
the ARF must dispassionately analyze the key challenges facing the region. It should acknowledge that
periods of rapid economic growth are often accompanied by significant shifts in power relations. This
can lead to conflict. The ARF will have to carefully manage these transitions to preserve the peace.

Secondly, recognize the diverse approach to peace and security and forge a consensual
approach. The ARF can make a more meaningful contribution to the peace and security of the Indo-
Pacific if it can consider two approaches to move forward. First, instead of continuing to focus on
general confidence-building measures, one may consider taking initiatives to address specific tensions or
conflicts in the region. Second, we may consider expanding and including that mission, which is currently
limited to dispute resolution. Cooperation on both traditional and non-traditional security issues.
Traditional and non-traditional security are collectively referred to by ARF and ASEAN as
"comprehensive security."

Thirdly, unresolved territorial disputes. Any one of these could spark conflagration that could
undermine the peace and prosperity of the region. Over time, the ARF will have to gradually defuse
these potential problems. Southeast Asian countries have also resolved many bilateral issues, such as
border disputes, with the help of outside parties such as the International Court of Justice. The current
domestic crisis in Myanmar is a new challenge for ASEAN. It is an issue that ASEAN has addressed by
holding an unprecedented summit in April 2021 to show the way to successfully resolve this crisis.
Therefore, the view that ASEAN should be gain more experience and skills before directing a dedicated
confidence-building measures (CBM) for some of the issues that do not exist in the larger ARF footprint
area. ASEAN and its member countries began to gain a wealth of experience long before the ARF was
established. The ARF seems to be steadily withdrawing from its original goal of conflict resolution, as
reflected in the three-tiered conflict management process.

Lastly, weak leadership is one of the limitations of the ASEAN Regional Forum. Bad leadership is
likely to threaten ASEAN, as this unification needs to be handled professionally by the best leaders in the
region. For example, Indonesia chaired ASEAN in 2011, addressing issues that could divide ASEAN.
Therefore, Indonesia has improved its management skills as a reminder of past events, ensuring that the
interests of all ASEAN regions developed by its successor Cambodia during leadership are protected.

To conclude, this all seems to be a dark rating of ARF. But if ARF can continue to reach its full
potential as an important regional security agency, it does not have to be. This is another reason why
ARF should seriously consider security cooperation as an integral part.
QUESTION 2

Since Australia became ASEAN's first dialogue partner in 1974, dialogue between ASEAN and
Australia has developed and matured. Leaders of ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand met in 2004 to
commemorate the 30th anniversary of the dialogue. At the Memorial Summit, leaders adopted a joint
statement by the Head of State or Government to further expand and deepen dialogue in all areas,
including political, economic, and socio-cultural cooperation. The first independent ASEAN-Australia
Summit was held in October 2010 in Hanoi in conjunction with the 17th ASEAN Summit and related
summits, and leaders reaffirmed the importance of a long-standing partnership between Australia and
ASEAN.

There are a few dimensions of ASEAN Australia Partnership. Firstly, in political term is security
cooperation. Australia has appointed ASEAN's first resident ambassador, H.E. Mr. Simon Phillips
Merrifield addressed to ASEAN Secretary-General H.E., Mr. Le Luong Min, October 1, 2013. Australia is
actively participating in the ARF, a consultation forum to facilitate open dialogue on political and security
issues in the Asia-Pacific region. Australia supports ARF's work in counterterrorism and cross-border
crime, disaster relief, ocean security, non-proliferation and disarmament, and preventive diplomacy.
However, Australia is a member and strong supporter of ADMM-Plus, a platform for ASEAN and its eight
dialogue partners to strengthen practical security and defense cooperation. Australia co-chaired
Singapore and the ADMM-Plus Counterterrorism Expert Working Group (EWG) from 2014 to 2017. The
activities include the 4th ADMM-Plus Counterterrorism EWG held in Singapore in October 2014 and the
ADMM-Plus Counterterrorism Operator Workshop held in Sydney on April 19-23, 2015. Besides,
Australia is also working with ASEAN and other ADMMPlus member countries to prepare for an
ADMMPlus maritime security and counterterrorism exercise that will take place May 2-12, 2016.
Australia has regularly participated in the expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF) since its inception in
2012.

Secondly, economic cooperation. Trade, investment and tourism between ASEAN and Australia
have continued to grow over the past year. Australia was ASEAN's sixth largest trading partner, and
ASEAN was Australia's second largest trading partner in 20142, for a total of two opportunities. The
2004 ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Memorial Summit began negotiations on a free trade agreement
(FTA). Around the 14th ASEAN Summit held in Cham Hoa Hin on February 27, 2009, the Ministers of
Economy of ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand signed an agreement to establish the ASEAN-Australia-
New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA). However, AANZFTA is a modern and comprehensive economic
agreement that covers commitments and commitments that transcend trade in goods and services and
investment. It includes regulations on standards, hygiene and phytosanitary measures, e-commerce,
intellectual property, competition policies, and the free movement of businessmen. Besides, the first
protocol to amend the AANZFTA in the chapter on trade and rules of origin of goods was signed in
August 2014. It aims to make AANZFTA more business friendly and transparent, while simplifying the
information requirements for certificates of origin and improving management efficiency by integrating
rules of origin.

Thirdly, socio-cultural cooperation. Australia is one of the most active dialogue partners in
providing technical assistance to ASEAN regarding disaster management. This support will be provided
through a cooperation agreement to implement the 2010-2015 Working Program of the ASEAN
Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER). However, education is the
flagship area of cooperation between ASEAN and Australia. The Australia Awards Program awards more
than 1,000 scholarships annually to ASEAN students studying in Australia and Australian students
studying in ASEAN countries. Besides, ASEAN and Australia have continued to cooperate with many
health issues, including support for the implementation of the Emerging Infectious Diseases Medium-
Term Plan (2010-2015) program through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Infectious Diseases
Expert Group (AEGCD). The Government of Australia also assisted consultants in assessing the ASEAN
Strategic Framework for Health Development from 2010 to 2015. The results of this study were used to
finalize the ASEAN Health Development Agenda since 2015.

Lastly, the suitable status quo. The statement in Sydney said ASEAN-Australia relations are
entering a new era with shared interests and enhanced cooperation. However, this is not the first new
era of deeper ASEAN-Australia relations that can be heralded in the 44 years of ASEAN-Australia
dialogue partnership. Australia's cooperation with ASEAN through Cambodia in the 1990s, the
establishment of the ASEAN Regional Forum in 1993 with Australia's support. Australia became a
founding member of the East Asia Summit 2005 and the signing of AANZFTA in 2009, each represents a
new and enhanced level of cooperation between ASEAN and Australia. As the special ASEAN-Australia
summit and its lengthy joint statement showed, the countries of Southeast Asia welcome the growing
support from Australia's dialogue partners on many initiatives. Australia could seek to join the ranks of
Japan, China, South Korea, the United States, and India and host the usual annual ASEAN-Australia
summits instead of the regular summits. In keeping with their size, China and Japan have a broader and
deeper dialogue relationship with ASEAN with more cooperation mechanisms in many functional areas
than the current relationship between the partners ASEAN-Australia dialogue. If future Australian
governments believe that a deeper relationship with ASEAN is in the national interest, there is plenty of
room to achieve this in the current Dialogue Partnership. The current status quo of Australia as a
dialogue partner with ASEAN is the most relevant.
In conclusion, it shows that all these dimensions have a deep-rooted interest in ASEAN. Due to
strategic and economic changes in the Asian region and increasing demand for resources in emerging
economies, Southeast Asia is an area where the interests of the world's largest powers are at stake.
QUESTION 3

The ASEAN Social and Cultural Community (ASCC) is one of the three pillars of the ASEAN
community that are working to improve people's quality of life by putting people's well-being and
happiness at the center of their activities and promote a better quality of life for ASEAN people and their
communities.

There are a few strategies endorsed by ASEAN in addressing the ASEAN Socio-Cultural
Community (ASCC) objectives. First, Social Welfare and Protection. ASEAN is committed to enhancing
the well-being and the livelihood of the peoples of ASEAN through alleviating poverty, ensuring social
welfare and protection, building a safe, secure and drug free environment, enhancing disaster resilience
and addressing health development concerns. For instance, poverty alleviation. Fully address socio-
economic disparities and poverty that persist across ASEAN Member States including achieving the MDG
goal of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger. The action that can be done such as developing and
implementing an ASEAN Roadmap towards realizing the UN Millennium Development Goals in
consultation among concerned sectoral bodies with a view to identify and extend technical assistance
required in the field of poverty reduction.

Secondly, Social Justice and Rights. ASEAN is committed to promoting social justice and
mainstreaming people’s rights into its policies and all spheres of life, including the rights and welfare of
disadvantaged, vulnerable and marginalized groups such as women, children, the elderly, persons with
disabilities and migrant workers. This can be done by promoting and protecting of the rights and welfare
of women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. For instance, safeguard the interests and
rights as well as provide equal opportunities and raise the quality of life and standard of living, for
women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Some actions that can be taken such as work
towards the establishment of an ASEAN commission on the promotion and protection of the rights of
women and children. Other than that, continue to implement the Work Plan to Operationalize the
Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women in the ASEAN Region. Ultimately, implement
programmes on child survival, development, and protection consistent with the Convention on the
Rights of the Child.

Thirdly, Ensuring Environmental Sustainability. ASEAN shall work towards achieving sustainable
development as well as promoting clean and green environment by protecting the natural resource base
for economic and social development including the sustainable management and conservation of soil,
water, mineral, energy, biodiversity, forest, coastal and marine resources as well as the improvement in
water and air quality for the ASEAN region. ASEAN will actively participate in global efforts towards
addressing global environmental challenges, including climate change and the ozone layer protection, as
well as developing and adapting environmentally-sound technology for development needs and
environmental sustainability. For instance, promoting sustainable development through environmental
education and public participation. The aims are to establish a clean and green ASEAN, rich in cultural
traditions where the values and practices of the people are in accordance with the rhythm and harmony
of nature, with citizens who are environmentally literate, imbued with the environmental ethic, and
willing and capable to ensure the sustainable development of the region through environmental
education and public participation efforts. This can be done by implementing the ASEAN Environmental
Education Action Plan (AEEAP) 2008-2012. Other than that, establish a baseline assessment on the
extent to which national curricula in the basic education system include Environmental Education (EE)
and Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) content.

Lastly, Human Development. ASEAN will enhance the well-being and livelihood of the peoples of
ASEAN by providing them with equitable access to human development opportunities by promoting and
investing in education and life-long learning, human resource training and capacity building, encourage
innovation and entrepreneurship, promote the use of English language, ICT and applied science and
technology in socio-economic development activities. For instance, investing in human resource
development. The objective is to enhance and improve the capacity of ASEAN human resource through
strategic programmes and develop a qualified, competent, and well-prepared ASEAN labor force that
would benefit from as well as cope with the challenges of regional integration. However, there are a few
actions that can be done such as undertake a survey by 2009 and work to strengthen the existing
centers of excellence in the field of human resource development in the ASEAN region and promote the
use of English as an international business language at the workplace.

To conclude, the ASCC Blueprint shall be monitored and reviewed by the ASEAN Secretariat to
ensure that all the activities are responsive to the needs and priority of ASEAN. The mid-term review of
the implementation of the ASCC Blueprint can be undertaken whenever necessary, considering the
changing dynamics of the region and the global environment.
 The ASEAN Social and Cultural Community (ASCC) is a group of three ASEAN communities
working to improve people's quality of life by putting people's well-being and happiness at the center of
their activities and promoting better quality of life. It is one of the pillars. For the people of ASEAN and
their communities.

There are several strategies ASEAN advocates to achieve the goals of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural
Community (ASCC). First, social welfare and protection. By alleviating poverty, ensuring social welfare
and social protection, providing a safe and drug-free environment, improving disaster resilience, and
addressing health development concerns, ASEAN's people We are committed to improving happiness
and life. For example, poverty reduction. Comprehensively address the ongoing socio-economic
inequality and poverty of ASEAN member countries, including the achievement of the MDG goal of
eradicating extreme poverty and hunger. Possible actions, including the development and
implementation of the ASEAN Roadmap to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals, in
consultation with relevant sectoral organizations to identify and expand the technical assistance needed
in poverty reduction.

Second, social justice and rights. ASEAN promotes social justice in all areas of politics and life,
including the rights and well-being of vulnerable and estranged groups at disadvantages such as women,
children, the elderly, disabled and immigrant workers. We are working to mainstream people's rights.
This can be achieved by promoting and protecting the rights and well-being of women, children, the
elderly, and persons with disabilities. For instance, safeguard the interests and rights as well as provide
equal opportunities and raise the quality of life and standard of living, for women, children, the elderly,
and persons with disabilities. Some actions that can be taken such as work towards the establishment of
an ASEAN commission on the promotion and protection of the rights of women and children. Other than
that, continue to implement the Work Plan to Operationalize the Declaration on the Elimination of
Violence Against Women in the ASEAN Region. Ultimately, implement programmes on child survival,
development, and protection consistent with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Third, ensure the sustainability of the environment. ASEAN sustains by protecting its natural
resource infrastructure for economic and social development, including sustainable management and
conservation of soil, water, minerals, energy, biodiversity, forests, coastal and marine resources. We
strive to achieve possible development and promote a clean and green environment. Improve water and
air quality in the ASEAN region. ASEAN addresses global environmental challenges, including climate
change and ozone layer protection, and actively participates in global efforts to develop and adapt green
technologies for development needs and environmental sustainability. For example, promote
sustainable development through environmental education and public participation. The goal is to
ensure sustainable development of the region through environmental education and public
participation, where people's values and practices are in harmony with the rhythms and practices of
nature, considerate of the environment, immersed in environmental ethics. This can be done through
the implementation of the ASEAN Environmental Education Action Plan (AEEAP) 2008-2012. In addition,
a baseline assessment should be made on the extent to which the content of environmental education
(EE) and sustainable development (ESD) is included in the national curriculum of the basic education
system.

Finally, human development. By providing equal access to human development opportunities by

promoting and investing in education and lifelong learning, human resource development and capacity
building, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, and promoting utilization. Improve the well-being
and livelihood of the people of ASEAN. The fields of English, ICT and applied science and technology in
socio-economic development activities. For example, investing in human resources development. Its
purpose is to develop a skilled, competent, and well-prepared ASEAN workforce that can strengthen and
improve the capacity of ASEAN human resources through strategic programs, benefit from regional
integration and meet the challenges. However, you can take some measures, such as conducting a
survey by 2009 to strengthen existing centers of excellence in human resource development in the
ASEAN region and strive to promote the use of English as an international business language in the
workplace.

To conclude, the ASCC Blueprint will be monitored and reviewed by the ASEAN Secretariat to
ensure that all activities are in line with ASEAN needs and priorities. An interim review of the
implementation of the ASCC Blueprint can be conducted as needed, considering the changing dynamics
of the region and the global environment.