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On 12th 13th of May 2022, the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) held the very first Special Summit at the White House. This event was mainly focused on the relationship of southeast Asian countries with the US, as well as in the growing popularity and strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region from various perspectives. This summit was attended by the current US President, Joe Biden, and the leaders of the ASEAN members states such as Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. However, two of the members’ leaders, Myanmar and the Philippines, were noticeably absent.
For the past two decades, the relationship between the US and the ASEAN community has been promoted and deepened, focusing on economy, social, environment and essentially security development. According to the White House press statement, in its budget, the US have allotted $12.1 billion to address the aspects highlighted above and also provided over $1.4 billion for the humanitarian activity in that region. As for the Special Summit, several issues and plans were discussed such as COVID recovery, economic ties, maritime security, human rights, social development, technology and climate change. Throughout the discussion, the participants were able to map out a few prospective strategies of addressing the challenging issues within the region.
First and foremost, taking into account the impact of the global COVID pandemic, the ASEAN members are determined in upgrading existing health care systems and facilities in order to accelerate the recovery rate and readiness for future crisis. This is exemplified in the ASEAN-US Health Futures initiatives that commits to adequate, stronger and sustainable global financing of the sector with partners ranging from the World Bank to the World Health Organization. Additionally, the US had an agreement with the ASEAN Dialogue Partners previously on the Quad Vaccine Partnership that facilitates the manufacturing of medical products and also developing health care system with Universal Health Coverage. This will also help in enhancing the local and regional medical production or manufacturing companies.
Simultaneously, the relationship is also strongly based on the economy and security ties. The Biden administration has engaged in fulfilling the Indo-Pacific Strategy where it integrates the economy of Southeast Asia region by maintaining its position as the largest investment partner, including the Foreign Direct Investments and trade opportunities in its economic arsenal. An example of this strategy may be seen is the proposed grant of $150 million expected to mobilise the private financing that will essentially deepen relations and strengthen ASEAN centrality in accomplishing shared objectives. With the US being the largest economy in the world, strategies such as the Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement, Expanded Economic Engagement Initiatives Workplan and importantly the Free and Open Indo-Pacific plan are considered vital by ASEAN member states in securing the region’s sustainable development.
Subsequently, these actions have covered aspects relating to education and cultural exchange programmes to bridge and cement relations, which gives more opportunities to students from ASEAN countries to pursue higher education and participate in international programmes. The Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), a well-known youth program, is an example of potential leaders from the region with a future career opportunity by offering intensive training. Likewise, in the aftermath of the summit both entities plan to launch the U.S.-ASEAN Institute for Rising Leaders. This innovative program aims at brining exceptional public servants from ASEAN governments to the United States for professional and leadership training at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
As for the security aspect, the US is certainly concerned about the potential threats that may not only affect the ASEAN nations but also the Asia-Pacific region. Therefore, on the agenda they have managed to expand their maritime cooperation in strengthening the military alliance. The alliance of the US-Southeast Asia Coast Guard Cooperation pillared on maritime training and capacity-building amongst security agents of the ASEAN region address security challenges. This creates a cooperative and collaborative structure among the security stakeholders from ASEAN, the US and other regional partners.
Moreover, the ASEAN community has been involved in ensuring the freedom of navigation and overflights by underlying few other articles imposed by the 1982 UNCLOS, 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC). Besides enhancing the security cooperation, the summit affirming the need for peace in the region and its immediate neighbours laid emphasis on the necessity of a nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction free zone as enshrined in the treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ Treaty) and the ASEAN Charter. For various actors, this aspect remains paramount for stability in the region.
Also, an essential component discussed during the strategic summit was the growing environmental challenges facing the region. For example, since 1997, the annual haze crisis which befalls member states such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, etc., due to actions of local element in Indonesia has been of upmost importance, thus stressing the need for liability and accountability among the members. Apart from that, the summit also addressed other current climate issues in the region such as rising sea levels, flooding, drought, heightened risk of water-energy-food insecurity and other extreme weather conditions.
This brings us to the issue of technological advancement as an important aspect in mitigating the climate issues the region faces. The initiation of public and private collaboration in conducting finances in environmental-friendly technologies plays a role in sustainable development of the region. Specifically, the enhancement in agriculture technology which includes biotechnology and Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices provides resilience and adaptation to climate issues. From the foregoing, through the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC), the countries are able to uphold the acceleration of energy transition and strengthening of energy resilience by investing in advanced and emerging lowcarbon energy technologies.
Finally, aspects of human rights, democracy and rule of law covering the social issues were also highlighted during the summit. Asides series of flawed elections, human rights issues have been widely debated in the region taking into account activities happening in Myanmar. According to Human Right Watch, Myanmar is currently facing many allegations and accusations which include the violations of human right and possible genocide carried out against the Rohingya community. Highlighting the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus member states emphasized the need to maintain and ensure the safety of Myanmar’s citizens in the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The growing refugee crisis also brings to light the debate considering the shift from a non-interference to non-indifference policy within the charter.
In summary, the summit raised awareness of the diverse issues and future development of cooperation in the region. Particularly, it amplified the importance of external alliance exemplified by the press release of both the US and the ASEAN community. However, it is crucial to consider the fact that historically Western partners’ funding for programmes and initiatives within the region has taken the form of conditional aid stressing the communities need to address human right and rule of law issues. At the same, the rising trade and maritime navigation tension between the US and China will definitely affect the outlook of the ASEAN community in the coming year, for which to some extent the recent summit provides projectiles.
Author: Eingkarran Kumaravel
Bibliography:
The White House, (2022), “Fact Sheet: U.S.-ASEAN Special Summit in Washington, DC”, Briefing Room Statement and Releases, May 12. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statementsreleases/2022/05/12/fact-sheet-u-s-asean-special-summit-in-washington-dc/
The White House, (2021), “Fact Sheet: Quad Leaders’ Summit”, Briefing Room/ Statement and Releases, September 24. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statementsreleases/2021/09/24/fact-sheet-quad-leaders-summit/
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U.S. Mission to ASEAN, (2020), “The U.S. Vision for the Indo-Pacific”, February 21 https://asean.usmission.gov/the-u-s-vision-for-the-indo-pacific/,
“Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI)”, US Embassy and Consulate in Indonesia https://id.usembassy.gov/education-culture/yseali/
(2022), “ASEAN-U.S. Special Summit, 2022, Joint Vision Statement”, May 05. https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Final-ASEAN-US-SpecialSummit-2022-Joint-Vision-Statement.pdf
James Cotton, (1999), “The “Haze” over the Southeast Asia: Challenging the ASEAN Mode of Regional Engagement”, Pacific Affairs, Vol.72:3, pp. 331- 351
Today Online, (2019), “Singapore Sends Diplomatic Note to Indonesia Over Forrest Fires”, News Straits Times, September 28; Greenpeace Southeast Asia, (2019), “ASEAN Haze 2019: The Battle of Liability”, Greenpeace, November 1.
APAEC Drafting Committee, (2020), “(2021-2025) ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2016-2025 Phase II”, ASEAN Centre for Energy, November 23; See also: (2022), “ASEAN-U.S. Special Summit, 2022, Joint Vision Statement”, May 05. https://asean.org/wpcontent/uploads/2022/05/Final-ASEAN-US-Special-Summit-2022-JointVision-Statement.pdf
HRW, (2021), “Myanmar Events of 2021” https://www.hrw.org/worldreport/2022/countrychapters/myanmar-burma
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