Asean

The standstill of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has plans to fast track the integrating of its member countries over the next few years. Aside from encouraging cooperation through traditional diplomatic and ethnical activities, there are also ambitious proposals for ASEAN to mercantile establishment a single visa and currency, and even form a united regional Olympic team. The advantages of a united ASEAN are easy to imagine. A viscid ASEAN would likely bring tremendous benefits to Southeast Asians in the forms of more jobs, more tourists, stronger defense forces and improved chumminess among competing neighbors.Besides, who would oppose the idea of unity and greater economical coordination in the region? But ASEANs basic bother is not merely an absence of unity. Wasnt unity the main objective of ASEAN when it was established in 1967? The fact that after four decades, the group is still pushing to integrate its ten member countries suggests a pretty significant failure to fos ter solidarity in the region. Without undermining the laud adapted efforts of the ASEAN Secretariat, many doubt it can realize the One Community good deal by its announced target date of 2015.How can it, if it continues to use the corresponding approach that has singularly failed to unite its members to date? ASEAN unity will remain an impossible vision as dour as its members continue to demand it for the violate reasons. In truth, each member nation views its association with ASEAN as a means to pursue its subject interests. Sacrificing the subject area agenda to realize the regional full(a) is largely an alien concept to ASEAN members. Member nations are in favor of unity as long as it doesnt conflict with their respective national objectives.To be sure, ASEAN has successfully coordinated aid and relief efforts when natural disasters have devastated the region. But the group should be more than the regions answer to cherry Cross. But such instances are usually when ASEAN u nity is invoked, namely, when a member is overwhelmed by a problem it cant solve or when it is impact by a neighbors woes. Today, for example, we hear demands for ASEAN to intervene in Burmas Rohingya Dilemma, maritime disputes in the South China Sea or watt Philippine Sea, and human trafficking across the region.ASEANs next step will most likely be to decide whether to issue a joint bidding to address these issues. In the absence of disasters, and in between ministerial conferences, however, ASEAN has failed to engage in the essential occupation of building regional unity. ASEAN hasnt even been able to prevent members from accusing each other of being bad neighbors. East Timors attempts to join the inn have been blocked by Singapore, among others, which view its main course as a threat to their national interests, although the reason given to the public is usually East Timors internal conflicts.Ultimately, ASEANs unwillingness to form a more united and powerful regional group ing has been exploited by global powers like the united States, China and Japan, which are aggressively promoting their geopolitical interests in the region. A unified ASEAN could challenge the political and economic resources of these big nations. Instead, each ASEAN member has preferred to conduct individually. Its tragic enough that ASEAN is not united.Its more tragic to hear ASEAN members articulate and advance the interests of non-ASEAN superpowers during ASEAN summits. At the minimum, a united ASEAN could prevent colonial powers old and new from dominating the region. But thats just a start. After asserting its independence, it would be great to see ASEAN aspire to become a global power in its own right. With this vision in mind, perhaps its time to unite and promote the Southeast Asian way of look as a viable alternative to the world.AseanThe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has plans to fast track the integration of its member countries over the next few ye ars. Aside from encouraging cooperation through traditional diplomatic and cultural activities, there are also ambitious proposals for ASEAN to issue a single visa and currency, and even form a united regional Olympic team. The advantages of a united ASEAN are easy to imagine. A cohesive ASEAN would likely bring tremendous benefits to Southeast Asians in the forms of more jobs, more tourists, stronger defense forces and improved camaraderie among competing neighbors.Besides, who would oppose the idea of unity and greater economic coordination in the region? But ASEANs basic problem is not merely an absence of unity. Wasnt unity the main objective of ASEAN when it was established in 1967? The fact that after four decades, the group is still pushing to integrate its ten member countries suggests a pretty significant failure to foster solidarity in the region. Without undermining the laudable efforts of the ASEAN Secretariat, many doubt it can realize the One Community vision by its an nounced target date of 2015.How can it, if it continues to use the same approach that has singularly failed to unite its members to date? ASEAN unity will remain an impossible vision as long as its members continue to demand it for the wrong reasons. In truth, each member nation views its association with ASEAN as a means to pursue its national interests. Sacrificing the national agenda to realize the regional good is largely an alien concept to ASEAN members. Member nations are in favor of unity as long as it doesnt conflict with their respective national objectives.To be sure, ASEAN has successfully coordinated aid and relief efforts when natural disasters have devastated the region. But the group should be more than the regions answer to Red Cross. But such instances are usually when ASEAN unity is invoked, namely, when a member is overwhelmed by a problem it cant solve or when it is affected by a neighbors woes. Today, for example, we hear demands for ASEAN to intervene in Burma s Rohingya Dilemma, maritime disputes in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea, and human trafficking across the region.ASEANs next step will most likely be to decide whether to issue a joint statement to address these issues. In the absence of disasters, and in between ministerial conferences, however, ASEAN has failed to engage in the essential task of building regional unity. ASEAN hasnt even been able to prevent members from accusing each other of being bad neighbors. East Timors attempts to join the club have been blocked by Singapore, among others, which view its entry as a threat to their national interests, although the reason given to the public is usually East Timors internal conflicts.Ultimately, ASEANs unwillingness to form a more united and powerful regional grouping has been exploited by global powers like the United States, China and Japan, which are aggressively promoting their geopolitical interests in the region. A unified ASEAN could challenge the political a nd economic resources of these big nations. Instead, each ASEAN member has preferred to negotiate individually. Its tragic enough that ASEAN is not united.Its more tragic to hear ASEAN members articulate and advance the interests of non-ASEAN superpowers during ASEAN summits. At the minimum, a united ASEAN could prevent colonial powers old and new from dominating the region. But thats just a start. After asserting its independence, it would be great to see ASEAN aspire to become a global power in its own right. With this vision in mind, perhaps its time to unite and promote the Southeast Asian way of life as a viable alternative to the world.