54 Hours in Southeast Asia Casulla, R.R.K. Necosia, R.I.M. & Belderol, J.V.

S
IS 106: ASEAN Studies [Link]&Sciences

Module 2
The ASEAN Organization and
Member States

W ELCOME STATEMENT
This is Module 2-The ASEAN organization! In the
previous module you have learned about the
development of ASEAN. In this module you will have an
in-depth view of the ASEAN organization. The next
station is your final deestination-Issues and Challenges
in Southeast Asia.

ASEAN AVE.

Module I Module II Module III

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54 Hours in Southeast Asia Casulla, R.R.K. Necosia, R.I.M. & Belderol, J.V.S
IS 106: ASEAN Studies [Link]&Sciences

Lesson 1: The ASEAN Organization

Lesson Outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, student will be able to…
1. Identify the salient features of ASEAN charter.
2. Explain the roles and responsibilities of the different organs of ASEAN.

Since its establishment in 1967, the ASEAN

operated without a formal charter until 2008. It
has managed its affairs with a minimum of
formality, with few legally binding arrangements,
and with relatively weak regional institutions.
ASEAN’s founding document was a two-page
―Declaration.‖ It had no criteria for membership
other than location in
Southeast Asia and adherence to some general principles of international behavior. Most
ASEAN agreements, even those that are technically binding, have been dependent on the
voluntary compliance of member states. There are no mechanisms for calling member-states to
account in case of non-compliance with binding agreements. The ASEAN Secretariat, the
closest thing that the association has to an executive, remained weak in terms of formal
powers.

With the promulgation of the ASEAN Charter, a legal framework for the regional bloc
was established. It transformed ASEAN to a legal entity with clear objectives and structure. It
also established ASEAN norms, rules, and values, sets clear targets for ASEAN and presents
accountability and compliance for its member states.

The ASEAN Charter was adopted at the 13th ASEAN Summit in November 2007. The
intention to draft the Charter had been formally proposed at the 11th ASEAN Summit held in
December 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Ten ASEAN leaders, one from each member
state, called the ASEAN Eminent Persons Group (EPG) were assigned to produced
recommendations for the drafting of the charter. At the 12th ASEAN Summit held in January
2007 in Cebu, Philippines, several basic proposals were made public. On November 14, 2008,
Thailand’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Don Pramudwinai
deposited the document with ASEAN Secretary-General, Surin Pitsuwan, in New York.
Almost a month after, the Charter came into force and was launched on December 15, 2008
in Jakarta, Indonesia.

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December 15, 2008 – ASEAN Headquarters, Jakarta, Indonesia. ASEAN

Foreign Ministers gathered at the ASEAN Secretariat to celebrate the
entry into force of the ASEAN Charter.

November 20, 2007 – 13 th ASEAN Summit in Singapore. During the 40th

anniversary of its founding in 1967, the ASEAN Charter was signed. The
HLTF composed of one representative from each of the 10 Member States.
It contains 13 Chapters, 55 Articles, and 4 Annex. It will now be ratified by
the ASEAN Member Nations.

December 6, 2006 – 12 th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines. The EPG

endorsed a report building on ―ASEAN Vision 2020‖ to the ASEAN
Leaders. The report contained observations, recommendations, and
recommended draft language for the new charter. The Cebu Declaration
on the Blue Print of the ASEAN Charter was issued. The High Level Task
Force (HLTF) for the Drafting of the ASEAN Charter received its mandate
on the same day. That mandate came with a strict timetable: have the
Charter ready for signature at the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore.

December 12, 2005 – 11 th ASEAN Summit Declaration in Kuala

Lumpur, Malaysia. The Eminent Persons Group of the ASEAN Charter (L-
R): Dr. Aun Porn Moniroth (Kingdom of Cambodia), Nguyen Manh Cam
(Socialist Republic of Vietnam), Professor S. Jayakumar (Republic of
Singapore), Ali Alatas (Republic of Indonesia), Tun Musa Hitam
(Chairman, Malaysia), Fidel V. Ramos (Republic of the Philippines),
Khamphan Simmalavong (Lao People’s Democratic Republic),
M.R. Kasemsamosorn S. Kasemsri (Kingdom of Thailand), Dr. Than Nyun
(Union of Myanmar), Phein Dato Lim Jock Seng (Brunei Darussalam). The
EPG was mandated to make recommendations for the ASEAN Charter,
after 40 years of existence.

August 8, 1967. The ASEAN Founding Fathers, Adam Malik of Indonesia, Narciso
R. Ramos of the Philippines, Tun Abdul Razak of Malaysia, S. Rajaratnam of
Singapore and Thanat Khoman of Thailand, sat down together in the main hall of
Why did i t take at the Department of Foreign Affairs building in Bangkok, Thailand, and signed a
least 40 year s for the document. The document that they signed would be known as the ASEAN
Declaration (Bangkok Declaration). This short, simply-worded document containing
ASEAN to create and just five articles, established an Association of Regional Cooperation among the
Countries of Southeast Asia to be known as the Association of Southeast Asian
enforce i ts Charter? Nations (ASEAN).

SIGHT SEEING
 54 Hours in Southeast Asia Casulla, R.R.K. Necosia, R.I.M. & Belderol, J.V.S
IS 106: ASEAN Studies [Link]&Sciences

Overview of the ASEAN Charter

The ASEAN Identity and Symbols

Chapter XI of the ASEAN Charter enumerates
the identity and symbols of the organization.
A. ASEAN Identity. ASEAN shall promote its
common ASEAN identity and a sense of
belonging among its peoples in order to
achieve its shared destiny, goals and values
(Article 35).
B. ASEAN Motto. One Vision, One Identity, One Community (Article 36).
C. ASEAN Day. The eighth of August shall be observed as ASEAN Day (Article 39)

ASEAN HYMN/ANTHEM
Article 40

The [Link]
Way /Original Version
Sodprasert, Mr Sampow Triudom,

ASEAN FLAG ASEAN EMBLEM [Link] Valaipatchra

Article 37 Article 38
Raise our flag high, sky high
Guidelines on the use of the ASEAN Flag Guidelines on the Use of the ASEAN Emblem
1. The ASEAN Emblem shall be the Embrace the pride in our heart
1. The ASEAN Flag is a symbol of Member States’
official emblem ofASEAN.
unity and support for the principles and ASEAN we are bonded as one Look-
2. The ASEAN Emblem represents a stable,
endeavours of ASEAN and is a means to
peaceful, united and dynamic ASEAN. The
promote greater ASEAN awareness and in out to theworld.
colours of the Emblem -- blue, red, white and
solidarity.
yellow -- represent the main colours of the
2. The ASEAN Flag represents a stable, For peace, our goal from the very start And
state crests of all the ASEAN Member States.
peaceful,united and dynamic ASEAN. The
3. The blue represents peace and stability.
colours of the Flag – blue, red, white and prosperity to last.
Red depicts courage and dynamism,
yellow – represent the main colours of the
white shows purity and yellow
flags of all the ASEAN Member States. We dare to dream we care to share.
symbolises prosperity.
3. Thebluerepresentspeace and stability. Red
depicts courage and dynamism, white shows 4. The stalks of padi in the centre of the Emblem
represent the dream of ASEAN's Founding
Together for ASEAN we
purity and yellow symbolises prosperity.
4. The stalks of padi in the centre of the Emblem Fathers for an ASEAN comprising allthe
countriesin Southeast Asia, bound together
dare to dream,
represent the dream of ASEAN’s Founding
Fathers for an ASEAN comprising all the in friendship and solidarity.
we care to share for it’s the way of ASEAN
countriesin Southeast Asia, bound together 5. The circle represents the unity of
in friendship and solidarity. ASEAN.
5. The circle represents the unity of
ASEAN

42
SIGHT SEEING

What is the common

message of the ASEAN
symbol s in terms of the
ASEAN Identit y?
 54 Hours in Southeast Asia Casulla, R.R.K. Necosia, R.I.M. & Belderol, J.V.S
IS 106: ASEAN Studies [Link]&Sciences

AIMS AND PURPOSES

As set out in the ASEAN Declaration, the aims and purposes of ASEAN are:
1. To accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the
region through joint endeavours in the spirit of equality and partnership in order to
strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian
Nations;
2. To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule
of law in the relationship among countries of the region and adherence to the principles
of the United Nations Charter;
3. To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest in
the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields;
4. To provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities in the
educational, professional, technical and administrative spheres;
5. To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilisation of their agriculture and
industries, the expansion of their trade, including the study of the problems of
international commodity trade, the improvement of their transportation and
communications facilities and the raising of the living standards of their peoples;
6. To promote Southeast Asian studies; and
7. To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional
organisations with similar aims and purposes, and explore all avenues for even closer
cooperation among themselves.

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54 Hours in Southeast Asia Casulla, R.R.K. Necosia, R.I.M. & Belderol, J.V.S
IS 106: ASEAN Studies [Link]&Sciences
The ASEAN Organs
I. ASEAN Chair
According to
Article 31 of the ASEAN
Charter, the
Chairmanship of ASEAN
shall rotate annually,
based on the
alphabetical order of the
English names of
Member States. A
Member State assuming
the Chairmanship shall
chair the ASEAN Summit
and related summits, the
ASEAN
Coordinating Council, the Organizational Structure of the ASEAN Secretariat
three ASEAN
Community Councils, relevant ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies and senior officials, and
the Committee of Permanent Representatives.

II. Secretary-General (SG) of ASEAN

The Secretary-General of ASEAN is appointed by the ASEAN Summit for a non-
renewable term of office of five years, selected from among nationals of the ASEAN Member
States based on alphabetical rotation. The Secretary- General of ASEAN. The SG is assisted by
four Deputy Secretary Generals (DSG) from the different ASEAN Community Councils. The
four DSGs shall be of different nationalities from the Secretary-General and shall come from
four different ASEAN Member States.
III. ASEAN Community Councils
The ASEAN Community Councils comprise Council of all the three pillars of ASEAN: (1) ASEAN
Political-Security Community Council, (2) ASEAN Economic Community Council, and (3) ASEAN Socio-
CulturalCommunity Council.
IV. ASEAN Coordinating Council
The ASEAN Coordinating Council comprise the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and is held at least
twice annually to prepare for the ASEAN Summit. In accordance with Article 8 of the ASEAN Charter,
the following are the roles of the ACC: (1) prepare the meetings of the ASEAN Summit, (2) coordinate the
implementation of agreements and decisions of the ASEAN Summit, (3) coordinate with the ASEAN
Community Councils to enhance policy coherence, efficiency and cooperation among them, (4)
coordinate the reports of the ASEAN Community Council to the ASEAN Summit, (5) consider the annual
report of the Secretary-General on the work of ASEAN, (6) consider the report

44
 of the Secretary-General on the functions and operations of the ASEAN Secretariat and other relevant bodies, (7) approve the appointment and
termination of the Deputy Secretaries-General upon the recommendation of the Secretary-General, (8) undertake other tasks provided for in this
Charter or such other functions as may be assigned by the ASEAN Summit.

V. ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies

ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies shall: (a) function in accordance with their respective established mandates, (b) implement
the agreements and decisions of the ASEAN Summit under their respective purview, (c) strengthen cooperation in their respective
fields in support of ASEAN integration and community building, (d) submit reports and
recommendations to their respective Community Councils.

VI. Committee Of Permanent Representatives To ASEAN

Each ASEAN Member State shall appoint a Permanent Representative to ASEAN with the rank of Ambassador based in Jakarta.
The Permanent Representatives collectively constitute a Committee of Permanent Representatives which shall: (a) support the work
of the ASEAN Community Councils and ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies, (b) coordinate with ASEAN National Secretariats and other
ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies; (c) liaise with the Secretary-General of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat on all subjects relevant to
its work, (d) facilitate ASEAN cooperation with external partners; and (e) perform such other functions as may be determined the
ASEAN Coordinating Council.
VII. ASEAN Human Rights Body
In conformity with the purposes and principles of the ASEAN Charter relating to the promotion and protection of human
rights and fundamental freedoms, ASEAN shall establish an ASEAN human rights body. This ASEAN human rights body shall operate
in accordance with the forms of reference to be determined by the ASEAN Foreign MinistersMeeting.
VIII. ASEAN Foundation
Each ASEAN Member State shall appoint a Permanent Representative to ASEAN with the rank of Ambassador based in Jakarta.
The Permanent Representatives collectively constitute a Committee of Permanent Representatives which shall: (a) support the work
of the ASEAN Community Councils and ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies, (b) coordinate with ASEAN National Secretariats and other
ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies; (c) liaise with the Secretary-General of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat on all subjects relevant to
its work, (d) facilitate ASEAN cooperation with external partners; and (e) perform such other functions as may be determined the
ASEAN Coordinating Council.
 Lesson 2: The Profile of ASEAN member states
Lesson Outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, student will be able to…
1. Outline the distinct features of ASEAN member states in terms of political, economic, and socio-cultural context.
2. Develop a digital presentation about the profile of the ASEAN member states.

ASEAN brings together countries with significant differences. Singapore has the highest GDP per capita in the group, at
around $60,000, according to 2020 World Bank figures; Myanmar’s is the lowest, at around $1,400. Demographics differ across
the region, too, with many religious and ethnic groups represented. For example, Singapore and Vietnam are among the world’s
most religiously diverse countries, according to a 2014 Pew Research Center report, while Buddhist-majority Cambodia and
Muslim-majority Indonesia are relatively homogeneous. ASEAN’s geography includes archipelagos and continental land masses
with low plains and mountainous terrain.

ASEAN LEADERS
Capital
MEMBER Currency Population Major Ethnic groups Major Religions
Head of City
STATES Head of State
Government
BRUNEI Bandar Brunei 449,066 (2023) Malay, Chinese Sunni Muslim
DARUSSALAM Seri Dollar
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Begawan
Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah

CAMBODIA Phnom Riel 17,359,172 Ethnic Khmer Buddhism

His Majesty King Norodom Prime Minister Hun Penh (2023)
Sihamoni Sen

INDONESIA Jakarta Rupiah 281,540,270 Javanese, Islam, Christianity,

(2023) Sundanese, Hinduism
President Joko Widodo Malay, etc.

LAO PDR Vientiane Kip 7,568,265 Lao-Tai, Mon-Khmer, Hmong- Buddhism

(2023) Iu Mien, etc. Tai folk religion,
President Prime Minister
Christianity
Thongloun Sisoulith Sonexay Siphandone
MALAYSIA Kuala Ringgit 33,514,437 Malay, Chinese, Islam, Buddhism,
His Majesty Sultan Abdullah of Prime Minister Lumpur (2023) Indians Christianity
Pahang Anwar Ibrahim

MYANMAR Nay Pyi Kyat 55,418,465 Burman, Kachin, Buddhism, Christianity,

Taw (2023) Kayah, etc. Islam
His Excellency Myint Swe

PHILIPPINES Manila Peso 113,624,397 Tagalog, Cebuano, Christianity, Protestants,

(2023) Ilocano, Bicolano, Islam
His Excellency Ferdinand Marcos Jr. etc.

SINGAPORE Singapore Singaporean 5,977,715 Chinese, Malay, Buddhism, Christianity,

dollar (2023) Indian Islam, etc.
Prime Minister Lee
Her Excellency Halimah Yacob
Hsien Loong

THAILAND Bangkok Baht 70,284,597 Thai, Khmer, Malay, Buddhism, Islam,

His Majesty King Maha Prime Minster (2023) Bamar Christianity
Vajiralongkorn Phra General H.E. Prayut
Vajiraklaochaoyuhua Chan-o-cha

VIETNAM Ha Noi Dong 99,765,752 Kinh, Tay, Thai, Buddhism, Catholicism,

(2023) Mường, Hmong, Vietnamese, folk
Prime Minister Khmer, etc. religion
President Võ Văn Thưởng Pham Minh Chinh

54 Hours in Southeast Asia Casulla, R.R.K. Necosia, R.I.M. & Belderol, J.V.S
IS 106:ASEAN Studies [Link]& Sciences
ASEAN Regional Fo rum
(ARF): Launched in 1993, the
twenty-seven-member multilateral
grouping was developed to facilitate
cooperation on political and security
issues to contribute to regional
confidence- building and preventive
diplomacy. The forum represents a
wide array of voices—including
ASEAN, its dialogue partners, North
Korea, and Pakistan, among others—
yet it is often mired in geopolitical
disputes that limit its effectiveness.

The consultative group initiated in

1997 brings together ASEAN’s ten
members, China, Japan, and South
Korea. The grouping
most coherent
and
substantive‖ pan-Asian
. Feigenbaum and Robert A.
Manning in a CFR report.

(EAS): First held in 2005, the

summit seeks to promote security
and prosperity in the region and is
usually attended by the heads of
state from ASEAN, Australia, China,
India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia,
South Korea, and the United States.
ASEAN plays a central role as the
agenda- .
the only opportunity for the
president of the United States to sit
down and collectively engage his
Asia-Pacific counterparts on the
main political and security issues of
the day,‖ write Vikram Singh of the
Center for American Progress and
Lindsey Ford of the Asia Society
Policy Institute.

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54 Hours in Southeast Asia Casulla, R.R.K. Necosia, R.I.M. & Belderol, J.V.S
IS 106: ASEAN Studies [Link]&Sciences

ASEAN EXTERNAL RELATIONS

The APT seeks to promote greater
cooperation in economic and many functional areas
amongst the ten ASEAN Member States and its three
ASEAN has cultivated close cooperation with partners, namely, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea,
countries and organizations outside the region in thus contributing to greater stability and prosperity in the
numerous fields such as trade, investment, human East Asian region. The EAS serves as a forum for strategic
resource development, science and technology, dialogue amongst the ten ASEAN Member States and its key
education, drug trafficking and anti-terrorism. These partners, namely, Australia, China, India, Japan, the
are done through the frameworks of ASEAN+1 (with Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the Russian Federation
its 1O Dialogue Partners -- Australia, Canada, China, and theUnited States, and seeks to reinforce an ASEAN-
India, Japan, The Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the centered regional architecture for the wider Asia- Pacific
Russian Federation, the United States, and the region.
European Union, as well as with the United Nations),
ASEAN Plus Three and the East Asia Summit (EAS). ASEAN also has sectoral dialogue relations
with Pakistan and Norway. Papua New Guinea is a Special
- ASEAN-Australia Dialogue Observer to ASEAN. In addition, ASEAN has cultivated ties
Relations with a number of regional groupings such as the
established in 1974 Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC),
- ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
Relations established in 1975 (SAARC), the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO),
- ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Relations the Southern Common Market or MERCOSUR, the Rio
established in 1977 Group and its successor the Community of Latin American
- ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Pacific Alliance.
established in 1977
- ASEAN-Japan Dialogue Relations ASEAN also seeks to play a more proactive
established in 1977 role in the global community of nations by contributing to
addressing the key regional and global challenges to
- ASEAN-UNDP Dialogue relations were
humanity. In so doing, ASEAN will continue to promote a
established in 1977 and has since been common
succeeded by the ASEAN-UN ―ASEAN voice‖ in multilateral fora and to engage actively
comprehensive partnership with global partners to promote shared goals.
- ASEAN-US Dialogue Relations
established in 1977 Read more articles to answer these questions:
- ASEAN-the Republic of Korea Dialogue 1. What is the most significant ASEAN
Relations established in 1991 External Relation? Why?
2. For the Philippines, what is the most
- ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations
important bilateral relations we have and
established in 1995
why?
- ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations
established in 1996
- ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Relations

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References:

[Link] force-of-the-
asean-charter-at-the-asean-secretariat-asean-secretariat-9-december- 2008/

Koh, T., Manalo, R.G., Woon, W. (2009). The Making of the ASEAN Charter. Singapore: World Scientific
Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd. [PDF]. Retrieved from
[Link]

Severino, R.C. (2005). Framing the ASEAN Charter: An ISEAS Perspective. Singapore: ISEAS Publications

Report of the Eminent Persons Group on the ASEAN Charter

Arno Maierbrugger. "Expanding ASEAN: Five candidates and their options | Investvine".
[Link]. Retrieved 2019-02-19.

Luke Hunt, The Diplomat. "Papua New Guinea Eyes ASEAN | The Diplomat".
[Link]. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
[Link] rp-support-
for-asean-membership-bid/story/

Aung, NyanLynn;McLaughlin, Tim (7November 2013). "Timor Leste onthe ASEAN waiting list". The
Myanmar Times. Retrieved 20 December 2013.

Padden, Brian (29 March 2011). "Indonesia Supports East Timor's Bid to Join ASEAN". Voice of
America. Retrieved 20 February 2013.

Thailand to support East Timor's membership of Asean, East Timor Law and Justice Bulletin,
13 January 2009, accessed on 27 November 2009

Hunt, Luke (27 May 2016). "East Timor Hopes for ASEAN Membership by 2017". The Diplomat.
Retrieved 24 February 2017.

Singapore andthe Philippines express supportfor Timor-Leste'sbidfor ASEAN membership

after Official visits". Government of Timor-Leste. 19 June 2013.
Retrieved 20 December 2013.

"Timor Leste application for ASEAN membership still being studied - chairman's report".
InterAksyon. 2017-11-16. Retrieved 2017-11-26.

Official Website of the ASEAN. [Link]

Osborne, Milton (2010; first published in 1979). Southeast Asia: An Introductory History Allen &
Unwin. ISBN 978-1-74237-302-7.

"ASEAN Member States". ASEAN WEBSITE. [Link]

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54 Hours in Southeast Asia Casulla, R.R.K. Necosia, R.I.M. & Belderol, J.V.S
IS 106: ASEAN Studies [Link]&Sciences

ASEANCommunityinFigures(ACIF)2013(PDF)(6th ed.). Jakarta: ASEAN. Feb 2014. p. 1. ISBN

978-602-7643-73-4.

Park; King, Seung-Woo; Victor T. (2013). The Historical Construction of Southeast Asian Studies:
Korea and Beyond. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN 9789814414586.

Emmerson, Donald K (1984). "Southeast Asia: What's in a Name?". Journal of Southeast Asian
Studies. 15 (1): 1–21. doi:10.1017/S0022463400012182. JSTOR
20070562. [Link]

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C LOSING STATEMENT
You have learned about the reasons behind the establishment of ASEAN. As an
“ASEAN Citizen”, I hope that you will live those principles and start to care not just
our country but also our neighbors.

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