ASEAN: The world’s new center of gravity amid the US-China rivalry?

Mira Permatasari, Bandung | Fri, 11/18/2011 8:46 AM A | A | A |-Klipping The Jakarta Post

For the third time in ASEAN’s history, Bali has been chosen as the place for ASEAN members to enhance the cooperation among themselves and their key partners. During the coming week, ASEAN will try to revitalize what has been gained in order to achieve the so-called ASEAN Community by 2015.

As one of the leading regional organizations in the world, ASEAN has been deemed one of the more stable and peaceful regions compared to others. Designed during the height of the Cold War, ASEAN was not rendered more relevant in every change taking place among the international political constellations. ASEAN’s crowning achievement is that in 44 years it has successfully prevented open warfare among its members and resolved various kinds of conflict and clashes in a peaceful manner.

Nevertheless, there have been many hiccups along its journey to preserve regional peace and stability. Indeed, Southeast Asia cannot avoid its vulnerability to interstate conflicts; but, ASEAN always attempts to find a win-win solution for all conflict parties.

In one of his speeches, former defense minister Juwono Sudarsono emphasized that the world had shifted from the West to the East. His words highlighted the reality that nowadays, international attention is primarily focused toward the Eastern part of the world. Toward China, for its enormous economic development; India, for its rapid growth in industrialization; newly industrialized countries (NICs), such as Japan and South Korea, for their stable economic development; and last but not least, ASEAN for its progressive changes and becoming more united in significant aspects.

It can be argued that ASEAN’s strong posture today has been boosted by its close relationship with its key partners. Having established the ASEAN+3, ASEAN+6, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the East Asian Community, ASEAN has assumed a commanding position in the political-security architecture in the region.

With the current rivalry between the US and China in trying to become the primary powerhouse in today’s world, ASEAN must attempt to be more proactive in playing its role with a broader perspective. At the same time, in the absence of any formal regional arrangement in East Asia among China, Japan, South and North Korea, ASEAN has to take this as a great opportunity to become the center of gravity of all forms of
arrangement in the region.

Some people have said that ASEAN has always been deemed the main vehicle to bring its members and regional neighbors together in seeking greater cooperation.

With the positive gesture made by three of ASEAN’s key partners, the US, Russia and China, in attending the ASEAN Summit this week, ASEAN must be fully aware of its importance and that it is an essential player in today’s world. If necessary, ASEAN may even have to play a little hard to get with great powers like China, the US and Russia.

US President Barack Obama’s arrival at the summit this week proved that the US will not let China stand alone in a dominant position in Asia. Russia shares this view. The world is fully aware that by having a closer relationship between China and ASEAN’s member states through the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA), China is confident enough to challenge the incumbent superpower to collect Asian support.

Indeed, that would increase US suspicions about China’s intentions in Southeast Asia. It is this situation that has generated the US and Russia’s desire to become more involved in ASEAN’s affairs; otherwise, China will take the lead. That is the reason why those two countries have to “buy in” to ASEAN as their entry point, to at least slow down China’s pace in influencing the region.

Given this favorable situation, it is crucial for ASEAN to be more optimistic in gaining a more substantial position in global politics and security. Not only because ASEAN is the pivotal regional organization in East Asia, but also because ASEAN is now incredibly attractive to the great powers.

Once again, in between the great powers’ rivalry, ASEAN has to be opportunistic and take all its chances to become a global player. ASEAN also has to improve the relationships among its member states to establish more peaceful conditions and to eliminate any latent mistrust. ASEAN should seek ways to garner mutual interests among all members to enhance what has been done by ASEAN during the past 44 years.

The spirit of the ASEAN community and a sense of unity and belonging must be revitalized in order to achieve a fully fledged community. It is necessary for ASEAN to be more focused in creating a united entity in the region and then finally step up to the global level. In a speech given during the current summit by the leader of ASEAN’s current chair, Indonesia, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stressed ASEAN had to become a common platform for resolving not only regional problems but also global issues.

The writer is a lecturer at the Department of International Relations, Parahyangan Catholic University, Bandung