ASEAN /East Asia Summits 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will   attend the 21st ASEAN-India and the 19th East Asia Summits in Laos.
The annual events are crucial as they are being held against the backdrop of fast developments in Myanmar where ethnic armed organisations are battling the military junta of the country, creating hurdles for regional connectivity and security plans.

About ASEAN:

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising ten Southeast Asian countries. It was established on August 8, 1967, with the primary goal of promoting political and economic cooperation, regional stability, and cultural development among its member states. Over time, ASEAN has become an influential player in regional diplomacy and international trade.

Key Aspects of ASEAN:

1. Member Countries:

The ten current members of ASEAN are:

• Indonesia
• Malaysia
• Philippines
• Singapore
• Thailand
  (These five are the founding members, 1967)
• Brunei (joined in 1984)
• Vietnam (joined in 1995)
• Laos (joined in 1997)
• Myanmar (joined in 1997)
• Cambodia (joined in 1999)

2. Objectives:

ASEAN was established with the following key objectives:

• Promote regional peace and stability through dialogue, non-interference, and cooperation.
• Accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development among member states.
• Strengthen political and security cooperation, especially in maintaining regional order.
• Enhance collaboration and mutual assistance in economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific, and administrative fields.
• Develop greater trade integration and cooperation with global economies.

3. Key Pillars of ASEAN:

ASEAN is structured around three main pillars:

• ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC): Focuses on maintaining regional peace, security, and stability through diplomacy and conflict resolution.
• ASEAN Economic Community (AEC): Aims to create a single market and production base, facilitating the free flow of goods, services, investment, and skilled labor, and a more competitive economic region.
• ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC): Works to build an inclusive community by promoting social welfare, environmental sustainability, education, and cultural integration.

4. ASEAN’s Key Initiatives and Cooperation:

• ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA): Established to promote regional trade and economic integration by reducing tariffs among member countries.
• ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF): A platform for security dialogue and diplomacy among ASEAN countries and external partners.
• ASEAN Economic Community (AEC): Launched in 2015, it aims to integrate the economies of member states, enabling freer movement of goods, services, investments, and skilled labor across the region.
• RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership): ASEAN played a central role in this trade agreement, which includes China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, making it one of the largest trading blocs in the world.

5. External Relations and Dialogues:

ASEAN maintains dialogue partnerships with major global economies and organizations, including:

• ASEAN Plus Three: Cooperation with China, Japan, and South Korea.
• ASEAN Plus Six: Adding Australia, New Zealand, and India to the Plus Three, in the context of broader economic and security cooperation.
• ASEAN-India, ASEAN-US, ASEAN-EU Summits: Regular meetings with external partners to foster trade, political dialogue, and cultural exchange.

ASEAN also plays a significant role in regional frameworks such as the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), promoting cooperation on global security issues, including maritime disputes, terrorism, and cybersecurity.

6. Challenges:

Despite its successes, ASEAN faces several challenges:

• Economic Disparities: There is a significant economic gap between more developed member states (e.g., Singapore, Malaysia) and less developed ones (e.g., Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar), which complicates regional integration.
• Political Differences: The varying political systems and governance models, ranging from democracies to authoritarian regimes, create difficulties in formulating common policies.
• Security Concerns: ASEAN’s principle of non-interference sometimes limits its ability to address internal issues like political instability, human rights abuses (e.g., in Myanmar), and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
• Competition with China and the US: ASEAN has to carefully navigate its relationships with both major powers, balancing economic cooperation with strategic independence.

7. Significance for India:

India has a strategic partnership with ASEAN, with growing trade, cultural exchanges, and security cooperation. India’s Act East Policy places ASEAN at the heart of its engagement with Southeast Asia, and the two sides cooperate in areas like counter-terrorism, maritime security, and digital connectivity. The India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement has also boosted economic ties.

About The East Asia Summit (EAS):

The East Asia Summit (EAS) is an important regional forum that brings together leaders from the Asia-Pacific region to discuss political, security, and economic issues of strategic importance. It was established in 2005 with the aim of promoting dialogue and cooperation on regional issues, fostering stability, and enhancing integration among its members.

Key Aspects of the East Asia Summit (EAS):

1. Members:

The EAS consists of 18 member countries, which include:

• 10 ASEAN countries:
  • Brunei
  • Cambodia
  • Indonesia
  • Laos
  • Malaysia
  • Myanmar
  • the Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam
• 8 Dialogue Partners:
  • India
  • China
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • United States
  • Russia

This mix of members brings together a range of major powers in the Asia-Pacific region, including economic giants like China, the U.S., Japan, and India, as well as smaller countries, reflecting the diversity of the region.

2. History and Background:

• The EAS was initiated by ASEAN and launched in 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• The ASEAN Summit serves as the central driver of the EAS, ensuring that it supports the broader objectives of ASEAN.
• The EAS focuses on dialogue and cooperation on broad strategic, political, and economic issues, complementing existing regional frameworks like the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and ASEAN Plus Three.

3. Areas of Focus:

The EAS operates as a leaders-led forum, primarily addressing a wide array of strategic and security challenges. Its discussions often cover topics such as:

• Regional Security: Maritime security, counterterrorism, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, and cybersecurity.
• Economic Integration: Trade liberalization, investment, and infrastructure development, especially through initiatives like the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
• Disaster Management: Cooperation in handling natural disasters, an important issue for a region frequently affected by earthquakes, typhoons, and tsunamis.
• Health Cooperation: Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, health security and preparedness have become important topics of discussion.
• Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability: Addressing environmental challenges, promoting green technology, and working toward global climate change commitments.

4. Key Outcomes and Initiatives:

The EAS has helped facilitate cooperation on several important issues over the years, including:

• Maritime Security: The EAS has played a crucial role in fostering dialogue on sensitive issues such as the South China Sea disputes. Although no binding agreements have emerged, it has provided a platform for constructive discussion among member countries.
• Economic Cooperation: EAS discussions often support broader regional trade initiatives, such as RCEP, which aims to create a large free trade zone covering ASEAN and its six major trading partners (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand).
• Regional Connectivity: EAS has supported initiatives to improve infrastructure and digital connectivity within the region, promoting economic integration and development.

5. Significance:

• Strategic Importance: The EAS is a crucial platform for regional diplomacy, bringing together major world powers in the context of the Asia-Pacific region’s growing geopolitical significance.
• ASEAN’s Centrality: While including major global players, the EAS keeps ASEAN at its core, ensuring that smaller Southeast Asian nations have a say in regional matters.
• Conflict Resolution and Diplomacy: The EAS serves as a dialogue platform where countries with competing interests, such as China and the U.S., can engage in direct talks on key issues, reducing the risk of conflict and misunderstanding.
• Economic Growth and Stability: By promoting trade, investment, and development cooperation, the EAS contributes to economic growth in the region.

6. Challenges:

• Diverging Interests: The inclusion of diverse powers like the U.S., China, and Russia means that the EAS often has to navigate conflicting interests, especially concerning regional security and trade policies.
• Non-Binding Nature: EAS decisions are generally consensus-based and non-binding, which limits its ability to enforce any collective action or agreements.
• Geopolitical Rivalries: Growing tensions between the U.S. and China, particularly over issues like the South China Sea, Taiwan, and trade, have at times created friction within the EAS.

7. India’s Role in EAS:

India has been an active participant in the EAS since its inception and sees the forum as a key part of its “Act East Policy”. Through the EAS, India engages with the Asia-Pacific region on issues of trade, security, and regional connectivity. India’s emphasis in the EAS has been on:

• Maritime security and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.
• Trade and investment cooperation with ASEAN and other member countries.
• Cultural and people-to-people ties with Southeast Asia.

8. Recent Developments:

• In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the EAS has been focusing on public health cooperation, supply chain resilience, and recovery strategies.
• The Indo-Pacific strategy has become a central theme in recent EAS discussions, with countries like India, Japan, and the U.S. promoting a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.