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US-ASEAN Relations By Khouloud maknine and Arbia Oueslati MA 2 IR 20!

US-ASEAN relations:

Outline:

_Introduction

1_ background on US-ASEAN relationship:

_ US-ASEAN relations during the cold war (19!-19"9#

_US-ASEAN relations during the 9!s

$_US-ASEAN relations enter the new %illenniu%

-US-ASEAN relations during &ush's ad%inistration

_ US-ASEAN relations during )ba%a's ad%inistration

_conclusion

Introduction:

*'US-ASEAN Securit+ ,elations: hallenges and .rospects'' is an e/tract written b+ 0uthiah

Algappa and taken ro% onte%porar+ Southeast Asia 2he e/tract %ainl+ deals with US Asean

Securit+ relations during the cold war 2he representation will not onl+ depend on the e/tract as

we are going to deal with %ore conte%porar+ issues Since ASEAN's establish%ent3 its

relationship with the United States has been shaped b+ 4arious de4elop%ents that ha4e gi4en

their relations a uni5ue histor+ In this e/pos6 we will tackle these dierent phases that shaped

both partner's histor+ starting ro% cold war period until )ba%a's ad%inistration

1_ background on US-ASEAN relationship:

_ US-ASEAN relations during the cold war (19!-19"9# :

19!-197!: A%erican contain%ent polic+

_ US entered into securit+ treaties with the .hilippines3 2hailand and South 8ietna%3 ac5uiring

base acilities in all o the%

_At the ti%e o ASEANs or%ation in 1973 A%erica welco%ed the new regional organiation

because it was pro-;est3 anti-o%%unist3 and espoused a ree enterprise s+ste% As the USwas then hea4il+ in4ol4ed in 8ietna%3 it appreciated ASEANbrittle alliance3 containing a strange %i/ o aligned and nonaligned nations? 2he+

were skeptical o the regional grouping because o such actors as the 4ast dierences in their

political3 legal3 and ad%inistrati4e s+ste%s@ their religions@ their cultures and identities@ and

their geographical co%position ;hen ASEAN was established3 US .resident +ndon & Bohnson

recognied the organiation but it would be later on in the relationship that A%erica would

co%e to ull+ appreciate the Association

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_the A%erican deeat3 Sino-A%erican rapproche%ent and So4iet-A%erican d6tente brought this

phase to a close

1971-197":

_US beca%e %ore reluctant to be in4ol4ed in regional and local conlicts

_US %ilitar+ bases in South 8ietna% were abandoned and those in 2hailand ter%inated at 2hai

re5uest

_Securit+ treaties with 2hailand and .hilippines re%ained intact but their 4italit+ was

considerabl+ eroded

_In 1971 ASEAN pursued proposal to establish a Cone o .eace3 Dreedo% and Neutralit+

(C).DAN#

_ C).DAN: in pursuit o the neutralit+ goal the states in the region are re5uired to rerain ro%

direct in4ol4e%ent in ideological3 political3 econo%ic3 ar%ed or other or%s o conlict between

e/tra-regional powers

_E/tra-regional powers are re5uired to rerain ro% interering in the do%estic and regional

aairs o the states in Southeast Asia

_this would entail:

_ the re%o4al o oreign %ilitar+ bases ro% the region

_ .rohibition o the use3 storage3 passage and testing o nuclear weapons in the one

_ the phasing out o securit+ arrange%ents with e/ternal powers

In the earl+ 197!s3 the US argu%ent against C).DAN ocused on:

_ Inappropriate ti%ing as the 8ietna% ;ar was still ar ro% conclusion

_the securit+ o the countries in the region was in danger and US assistance was still essential

_US had treaties with the .hilippines3 2hailand3 South 8ietna% and on Nol's a%bodia and had

bases in 2hailand and the .hilippines 0ala+sia and Singapore were %e%bers in the Di4e .owereense Arrange%ents All these would be Feopardied

_C).DAN was percei4ed as undercutting US interests and strateg+ in the region

_197 treat+ o A%it+ and o-operation outlined a procedure or the peaceul settle%ent o

disputes a%ong conlicting parties

_ Under the arter Ad%inistration3 the United States and ASEAN beca%e ialogue .artners on

Septe%ber3 "3 1977

_ 2he irst US-ASEAN ialogue %eeting was held in 0anila ro% Septe%ber 9-1!3 19773 and wasan i%portant occasion which added a new di%ension to their relationship

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_2he establish%ent o the ialogue .artnership helped to i%pro4e relations at a ti%e when the

United States was still hurting ro% the o%%unist 4ictor+ in the 8ietna% ;ar 2he ialogue

.artnership continues until toda+ and %aintains an integral role in US-ASEAN relations

197"-19"9: the 8ietna%ese in4asion o a%bodia3 the So4iet-8ietna%ese alliance3 the hinese

in4asion o 8ietna% and the So4iet in4asion o Aghanistan %arked the beginning o the third

phase

-the a%bodian conlict and So4iet support or 8ietna% pro4ided the i%petus to increase

securit+ co-operation between the USA and ASEAN countries

-So4iet ac5uisition o %ilitar+ acilities in 8ietna% and increased So4iet na4al presence in South

hina Sea pro4ided new Fustiication or an A%erican %ilitar+ presence in the region

_ In response to 8ietna%Gs ece%ber $3 197" in4asion o Ha%puchea3 the US-ASEAN

relationship continued to strengthen as the US allowed ASEAN a leading diplo%atic role in

tr+ing to resol4e the conlict between 8ietna% and a%bodia

_ ASEAN conde%ned 8ietna%consultations that oer both sides an opportunit+ to e/change 4iews on

the business and in4est%ent cli%ate and to e/a%ine wa+s in which US co%panies can work

together with the ASEAN 0inisters to pro%ote trade and in4est%ent in the region? 2he ouncil

has e/panded US-ASEAN ties and it regularl+ hosts e4ents and dialogues with oicials ro% all

ten ASEAN nations and oicials ro% the ASEAN Secretariat when the+ 4isit the United States

_US-ASEAN relations during the 9!s

US-ASEAN ,elations3 1991-199

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_In the earl+ 199!s under .resident eorge =; &ush3 the US-ASEAN relationship continued to

progress as both sides %aintained their cooperation when dealing with the ater%ath o the

2hird Indochina ;ar &oth wanted a peaceul a%bodian settle%ent process and or a%bodia

to beco%e a so4ereign state

_ )n )ctober $L3 19913 >a co%prehensi4e a%bodian .eace 2reat+ was initialed in .aris3 whichwas an agree%ent put together b+ the United Nations Securit+ ouncil

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US-ASEAN ,elations under .resident eorge ; &ush3 $!!1-$!!"

_ Under .resident eorge ; &ush3 the Septe%ber 113 $!!1 terrorist attacks on the United States

were so proound that the+ deined his oreign polic+3 particularl+ towards Southeast Asia 2o

hi%3 the region beca%e a critical second ront during the war on terroris%

_ 2ragic e4ents in Indonesia3 such as the bo%bings in &ali in $!!$ and $!! and in Bakarta in

$!!L and $!!K3 as well as the acti4ities o other Southeast Asian terrorists3 led the &ush

Ad%inistration to label the region a second ront71 ;hen links between al-Maeda and Southeast

Asian %ilitant organiations like Indonesia's Be%%ah Isla%i+ah and the .hilippine's Abu Sa++a

group were disco4ered3 the+ ser4ed as conir%ation o the &ush Ad%inistration's assess%ent

_ in $!!$3 the US oered to und the Southeast Asia ,egional enter or ounterterroris% in0ala+sia and it was established the ollowing +ear In $!!L3 a US-ASEAN ounterterroris%;ork .lan was also introduced or the region7 2he sa%e +ear3 co%bined US-ASEAN eortsled to the capture in 2hailand o =a%bali3 one o the planners o the $!!$ &ali bo%bings

_ 0eanwhile anti-US senti%ents were rising in Southeast Asia and around the world because o

se4eral &ush policies 2here was also anger in predo%inatel+ 0usli% countries around the

world3 including those in Southeast Asia3 that he was attacking a 0usli% nation

_ 2hat sa%e +ear3 ASEAN oicials were unhapp+ when Secretar+ o State ondoleea ,ice

%issed the ASEAN oreign %inisters< %eeting and the A,D 0eeting in 8ientiane3 aos3 because o

other pressing priorities regarding the 0iddle East 2his absence showed disregard or

Southeast Asia

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ratification of ASEANs &reaty of Amity and !ooperation '&A!(% US attendance at the ASEAN

)egional *orum 'A)*(% and Obamas hosting of the historic +st US-ASEAN Summit in Singapore

Ater ha4ing grown up in Indonesia3 .resident )ba%a has beco%e personall+ aware o the central role

o Isla% in Southeast Asian aairs

In his book The Audacity of Hope3 he e/pressed his realiation that Indonesia has undergone an

e/traordinar+ %eta%orphosis o4er the past decade3 %aintaining a religiousl+ tolerant orientation while

acco%%odating increased religiosit+ in its %an+ di4erse societiesO

-President Obama recognized the importance of the Islamic world and the need b the United

States to repair relations with the !uslim populations" including those in Southeast Asia#

In the )ba%a Ad%inistration's eorts to reconcile with the Southeast Asian 0usli% population3 it began

with two ke+ initiati4es )n 2hursda+3 Banuar+ $$3 $!!93 .resident )ba%a signed an e/ecuti4e order to

close the uantana%o &a+ acilit+ in uba that houses 0usli% prisoners3 including so%e ro% Southeast

Asia .resident )ba%a issued this e/ecuti4e order to de%onstrate a clean break ro% the &ushAd%inistration o ;ar on 2error 2he second initiati4e was when .resident )ba%a sent Secretar+ o

State =illar+ ,odha% linton to Indonesia on her irst oicial trip abroad linton co%pli%ented her

hosts b+ stating3 I +ou want to know i Isla%3 de%ocrac+3 %odernit+3 and wo%en's rights can coe/ist3

go to Indonesia

$%%& was President Obama's memorable address to !uslim nations at (airo Uni)ersit on Bune K3

in airo3 Eg+pt 2his speech is one o the )ba%a Ad%inistration's %ost concrete steps in re-engaging

Southeast Asia as he calls or reconciliation with the 0usli% world In his speech he stated:

>I ha4e co%e here to seek a new beginning between the

United States and 0usli%s around the world@ one based

upon %utual interest and %utual respect@ and one based

upon the truth that A%erica and Isla% are not e/clusi4e3

and need not be in co%petition Instead3 the+ o4erlap3

and share co%%on principlesP principles o Fustice and

progress@ tolerance and the dignit+ o all hu%an beings?

Q*o signif change" President Obama announced his )ision for a +new beginning#*his )ision was

a U#S#-Indonesia (omprehensi)e Partnership" which he announced in $%%

ASEAN's *reat of Amit and (ooperation ,*A(#3 originall+ concei4ed in 197 as a legall+ binding

code o riendl+ inter-State conduct a%ong Southeast Asian countries3 was a%ended in 19"7 to open it

or accession b+ countries outside o Southeast Asia ;hen &arack )ba%a beca%e president3 the United

States was the onl+ %aFor .aciic power not to ha4e acceded to the 2A on Bul+ $$3 $!!93 in aguna

.huket3 2hailand3 =ilar+ linton signed the 2A on behal o the United States as a sole e/ecuti4e

agree%ent Southeast Asian leaders generall+ ha4e welco%ed the )ba%a Ad%inistration's %o4e3

particularl+ since hina and India ha4e e%erged as great powers 2his e/panding engage%ent with

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ASEAN will help boost Southeast Asia's political stature3 particularl+ as hina seeks to continue

e/panding its inluence in the region

the East Asian Summit ,EAS is an open3 inclusi4e3 transparent and outward-looking oru%3 which

stri4es to strengthen global nor%s and uni4ersall+ recognied 4alues 2he EAS's growth and i%portance

ha4e signaled to ;ashington that its non-in4ol4e%ent could potentiall+ hurt the United States 2his ledthe )ba%a Ad%inistration to show its interest in beco%ing an EAS %e%ber

*he ASEAN .egional /orum ,A./" a co%ponent o the ASEAN .olitical-Securit+ o%%unit+3 was

established b+ the ASEAN leaders at the $7th ASEAN 0inisterial 0eeting in 199K in &angkok3 2hailand

2he United States is presentl+ one o the A,D's twent+ se4en %e%bers when )ba%a beca%e president3

US attendance and participation in the A,D was e/pected as proo o A%erica's desire to i%pro4e

relations Since US-ASEAN dialogue relations ocus strongl+ on political and securit+ issues3 the )ba%a

Ad%inistration needed to show that the US wanted to pla+ a role in %aintaining peace and stabilit+ in

the region ,ecogniing this3 Secretar+ o State linton did attend the 1th Annual A,D3 held on Bul+ $L3

$!!93 in aguna .huket3 2hailand3 her irst A,D %eeting At this %eeting3 the 0inisters welco%ed

ASEAN's deter%ination to establish an ASEAN o%%unit+ b+ $!1 0eanwhile3 two ke+ %ulti-

di%ensional threats and challengesO aecting the )ba%a Ad%inistration arose during the A,D %eeting:

the 0+an%ar and South hina Sea issues 2he )ba%a Ad%inistration called or a new polic+3 o both

engage%ent and econo%ic sanctions3 in hopes that dialogue with the 0+an%ar %ilitar+ Funta would

+ield positi4e results

On No)ember 01" $%%&" President Obama hosted the first U#S-ASEAN Summit held in Singapore

ater the A.E eaders' Su%%it %eeting At the Su%%it3 .resident )ba%a said: the US is co%%itted

to strengthening its engage%ent with Southeast Asia Again3 the United States used the Su%%it to

discuss 0+an%ar in an eort to gain direct ASEAN support

L &rade aspects of the US-ASEAN relationship% deals with their e,ports% imports% in#estments

and their collaboration in A"E!

Imports" E2ports" and In)estment: According to the %ost recent statistics3 in $!!93 ASEAN was the

United States ourth largest e/port %arket and its ith largest two-wa+ trading partner 2he United

States and ASEAN also ha4e a US-ASEAN 2rade and In4est%ent Arrange%ent (2IDA#3 established on

August $3 $!! 2he )ba%a Ad%inistration intensiied its work under the 2IDA in $!!93 presenting

ASEAN senior oicials with a nu%ber o a%bitious proposals to be pursued under the 2IDA work plan

2he new work plan ite%s include negotiating agree%ents on trade acilitation3 and conducting dialogueson trade inance3 trade and en4iron%ent3 and go4ern%ent-business

*he $%%& APE( !eeting: .resident )ba%a attended the 17th annual Asia-.aciic Econo%icooperation (A.E# Econo%ic eaders' 0eeting held in Singapore ro% No4e%ber3 1K-1 $!!92he ai%was to date in pro%oting econo%ic growth3 cooperation3 and trade and in4est%ent across the Asia-.aciic regionK US-ASEAN socio-cultural ties% including US-ASEAN educational e,changes: 2he United States

has se4eral educational e/change progra%s with ASEAN and the+ include the Dulbright Scholarship

.rogra%3 the 8ietna% Education Doundation3 and the RES .rogra% 2he 8ietna% Education Doundation

(8ED# is another e/a%ple o educational e/change

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Efforts by the Obama Administration ha#e impro#ed US-ASEAN relations and enhanced their

relationship 2hereore3 in $!!93 the )ba%a Ad%inistration e%barked on an a%bitious Fourne+ to

strengthen relations with ASEAN It sought to re-engage with the Southeast Asian nations on the on the

political-securit+3 trade3 and socio-cultural le4els the )ba%a ad%inistration was read+ to continue

strengthening its relations with ASEAN in $!1!

2+ Obama Administration:

the goals o the )ba%a Ad%inistration as it continued its re-engage%ent polic+ with ASEAN

political-security relations% will e,amine the A)* $eeting% the 2nd US-ASEAN Summit% the ASEAN

the South hina Sea issue beca%e a ocal point or the US and so%e ASEAN leaders=ilar+ linton

oered to acilitate %ultilateral talks through ASEAN on the islands' uture3 which would be a

collaborati4e diplo%atic process b+ all clai%ants or resol4ing the serious territorial disputes without

coercion

2he United States hosted the Second U#S#-ASEAN Summit meeting on September $3" $%0%3 in NewRork it+ At the %eeting3 the participants discussed political-securit+3 trade3 and socio-cultural

concerns3 all co%ponents o the )ba%a Ad%inistration's re-engage%ent polic+ with Southeast Asia

*he $%0% ASEAN 4efense !inisters !eeting Plus ,A4!! P5USin 8ietna%: 2he %eeting ocused on

establishing %odalities or the newl+ e/panded oru% and on initiati4es to establish conidence3 build

capacit+3 and cooperate on regional e/ercises pro%oting co%%on interests3 like hu%anitarian

assistance3 disaster relie and co%bat the prolieration o nuclear weapons

2he $!1! East Asia Su%%it 0eeting in 8ietna%: the purpose was to pursue issues such as nuclear

prolieration3 the increase in con4entional ar%s3 cli%ate change3 the pro%otion o hu%an rights and

%ariti%e securit+ as issues o concern

.resident )ba%a was at last able to %ake his 4isit to Indonesia ater three postpone%ents Bust da+s

ater the de4astating 4olcanic eruptions3 ro% No4e%ber 9-1!3 $!1! In response to the $!1! natural

disasters and ater consulting with the Indonesian go4ern%ent3 the United States contributed

hu%anitarian aid to Indonesia through the US Agenc+ or International e4elop%ent (USAI# 2he

United States pledged J$ %illion in total hu%anitarian assistance to Indonesia

&rade ties% will outline the 2+ A"E! $eeting and de#elopments in the &rans-"acific "artnership

'&""(2he 1"th A.E Econo%ic eaders' 0eeting was held ro% No4e%ber 1L-1K3 $!1!3 in Rokoha%a3

Bapan 2he %eeting %arked .resident )ba%a's second consecuti4e +ear o attendance at the A.E

oru%

Socio-cultural ties3 will then trace de4elop%ents in the Routh E/change and Stud+ (RES# .rogra% and

the ower 0ekong Initiati4e 2he ower 0ekong Initiati4e (0I# was created in response to the Bul+ $L3

$!!9 %eeting in aguna .huket3 2hailand3 between Secretar+ o State linton and the Doreign 0inisters

o the ower 0ekong ountriesa%bodia3 aos3 2hailand and 8ietna% It has socio-cultural aspects are

initiati4es designed to i%pro4e en4iron%ental concerns3 healthcare3 and educational acilities in the

participating countries

.2he )ba%a Ad%inistration3 in its second +ear3 continued its eorts to urther its re-engage%ent polic+

with ASEAN on the political-securit+3 trade3 and socio-cultural le4els )ba%a's ad%inistration continuedin its aspirations o beco%ing a 2rans-.aciic .artnership 2.. %e%ber and participated in the ourth

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round o 2.. negotiations .resident )ba%a proposed that a 2.. agree%ent be concluded b+ the $!11

A.E 0eeting in $!1!3 Secretar+ linton threatened to enact %ore rigorous sanctionsO against the

0+an%ar go4ern%ent when the elections held that No4e%ber ended in una4orable results and when

the go4ern%ent did not release %an+ political prisoners

$!11 poses a challenging +ear or the relationship as .resident )ba%a will be closer to acing re-election in $!1$ Nonetheless3 the Southeast Asian region will continue to be a priorit+ or his

ad%inistration in $!11

O/A$A A0$1N1S&)A&1ON 1N 2++:the )ba%a Ad%inistration is o to a good start with its relations

with ASEAN 2hese bilateral relationships are i%portant because the+ do aect US-ASEAN ties in

general

As or US bilateral relations with the insular states o ASEAN3 the best ties see% to be with Indonesia

because o .resident )ba%a's personal connections3 his childhood +ears there and his US-Indonesia

o%prehensi4e .artnership

2he ne/t best US bilateral relationship in insular Southeast Asia is with Singapore3 which pro4ides it

with base acilities3 is a strong partner in ighting terroris%3 and is the onl+ ASEAN nation to ha4e signed

a D2A with A%erica

=owe4er3 the .hilippines will re%ain i%portant to the US as it is a treat+ all+ and has a long histor+

with the United States

As or the US bilateral relationships with the %ainland states o ASEAN3 the worse relationship is with

0+an%ar because o its 4er+ long %ilitar+ rule and its hu%an rights abuses 2he best US bilateral

relationship in %ainland Southeast Asia is with 8ietna% due to their growing cooperation on the

political3 econo%ic3 and social le4els3 although there are so%e tensions o4er hu%an rights

2he ne/t best US bilateral relations in %ainland Southeast Asia is with 2hailand as it has a close

relationship with the US because it is a treat+ all+ and it is a 4ital partner in the ight against terroris%

,egarding a%bodia3 the )ba%a Ad%inistration will continue working to e/pand its bilateral

relationship since it would like a%bodia to be less dependent on hina &ecause the territorial disputes

o4er the Spratl+ Islands ha4e +et to be resol4ed3 the US will continue to back 8ietna% and the other

Southeast Asian nations who ha4e territorial clai%s in the South hina Sea

O)erall" in $%00" e2cept for !anmar" U#S# bilateral relations with the ASEAN nations are

progressing well and can be e2pected to grow

O/A$A A0$1N1S&)A&1ON 1N 2+2:ess than two weeks ater his re-election3 .resident &arack )ba%a

will beco%e the irst US president to 4isit the once pariah nation o 0+an%ar3 drawing attention to the

countr+Gs shit to de%ocrac+ and highlighting what his ad%inistration regards as a %ar5uee oreign

polic+ achie4e%ent

erek 2onkin writes: .resident )ba%aGs 4isit highlights the e/tent to which US-0+an%ar relations ha4e

alread+ achie4ed Gnor%aliationG =owe4er3 ongress has +et to repeal or e4en a%end US sanctions

legislation and such easing o sanctions as there has been is a result o presidential initiati4es3 %ainl+

through wai4ers 2he US is also still inclined to interpret %o4es to reor% in 0+an%ar as a direct result

o US policies3 without recogniing that the pri%ar+ initiati4e ca%e ro% .resident 2hein Sein and thatthe US attitude has been responsi4e rather than pro-acti4e3 based on a polic+ o Gaction or actionG

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!onclusion about Obamas foreign policy with ASEAN:

)4erall3 the )ba%a Ad%inistration has %ade substantial progress in US-ASEAN relations as it has

succeeded in i%pro4ing relations on the political-securit+3 trade3 and socio-cultural le4els As o %id-

$!113 the )ba%a Ad%inistration's political-securit+ ties with ASEAN are the strongest aspect o his re-

engage%ent polic+ 2he ad%inistration has been highl+ consistent in attending ASEAN %eetings3 4isitingASEAN countries3 and supporting ASEAN %e%ber countries on political-securit+ issues 2he second

strongest area o the US-ASEAN relationship is the socio-cultural ties due to the increase in US

educational e/changes3 especiall+ in the RES progra% .resident )ba%a pledged to increase these

e/changes in $!!9 at the irst US-ASEAN Su%%it 2he trade area is perhaps the hardest to see

i%%ediate i%pro4e%ents as progress takes ti%e to achie4e 2hereore3 in the trade area3 the US has

wa+s to go as it is still negotiating to beco%e a %e%ber o the 2.. agree%ent and working to sign D2As

with %ost o the ASEAN countries In ter%s o US bilateral relations with the ASEAN countries3

Indonesia has recei4ed the %ost attention3 due in part to .resident )ba%a's personal ties to the countr+

2he ne/t ASEAN state to recei4e %uch US attention is 8ietna% ;hen 8ietna% reached out to the

)ba%a Ad%inistration o4er territorial disputes in the South hina Sea3 the ad%inistration supported8ietna% and ASEAN b+ issuing a US-led initiati4e to tr+ to end the disputes diplo%aticall+ and

peaceull+ Ne/t3 in ter%s o US attention recei4ed3 would be the US treat+ allies3 the .hilippines and

2hailand 0+an%ar is the %ost troubling or the )ba%a Ad%inistration3 since its No4e%ber $!1!

elections did not bring about an+ signiicant political change in its %ilitar+ rule 2he )ba%a

Ad%inistration should continue its new polic+ o engage%ent and sanctions towards 0+an%ar at least

until $!1$ Ne4ertheless3 the )ba%a Ad%inistration still has work to do in de4eloping the US-ASEAN

relationship to its ullest potential Dortunatel+3 he has re-engaged ASEAN and has set in place the

oundation to build stronger US-ASEAN ties

6eneral (onclusion:

US-ASEAN relations were not reall+ i%portant or the United States uring the old war3 it was %ainl+

about securit+ or the US earing the spread o co%%unis% Ater the old war3 USA turned its back to

the region especiall+ under eorge ; &ush ad%inistrationI2 was onl+ under )ba%a's ad%inistration

that the US re-engaged ASEAN and started to build stronger ties

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