ZOPFAN stands for Zone of Peace, Freedom, and Neutrality and was originally proposed by Malaysia in 1970 to neutralize Southeast Asia. It aimed to ensure Southeast Asian countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as prevent the region from becoming an arena for conflict. Though supported by ASEAN members, ZOPFAN has not progressed much beyond the initial conceptual phase due to an emphasis on national sovereignty limiting cooperation. It is now seen as irrelevant in the post-Cold War era with limited ability to contribute to regional security arrangements.

1. ZOPFAN Name: Tan Poh YeeCourse: DBADISession: MPW1133 5SBLecturer: Mr. Raymond Lee

2. WHAT IS ZOPFAN ? ZOPFAN stands for Zone of Peace, Freedom, and Neutrality. Its originated in a 1970 proposal by Malaysia for neutralizing Southeast Asia. The idea has been attributed by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj The Malaysian government gained support for ZOPFAN by first broaching the proposal at the Non-Aligned Summit in Lusaka in September 1970. There are two levels of implementation. The first level specified that adopt and practice of nation-state in Southeast Asia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and find different ways and means of ensuring peace and security. For the second level of implementation is to ensuring that the Southeast Asian region would not become an arena for conflict.

3. What is ZOPFAN ? In 1971, the ZOPFAN proposal was again raised at the Commonwealth Conference held in Singapore. The proposal and subsequent declaration by the foreign minister from member states of the ASEAN. Malaysian officials pushed for two accords when the ASEAN member states met in Bali in 1976 which are the Declaration of ASEAN Concord and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

4. The Treaty of Amity The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation is open to accession by other Southeast Asian states, was couched along lines that had been the basis of the proposal or plan for peace. ZOPFAN has not progressed very much beyond the conceptual beginnings and terms set down during the Bali meeting in 1976. ZOPFAN remains an intra-ASEAN policy, the principles of the proposal and the subsequent Treaty of Amity and Concord have been contravened by non-ASEAN states.

5. Review of ZOPFAN In the 1990s, there has been a call for the revival and review of ZOPFAN. The review recognized that while regional cooperation on security must be promoted and the emphasis on national sovereignty had limited the realization of ZOPFAN. The concept of ZOPFAN seems irrelevant in the post-Cold War era. ZOPFAN is extremely limited in the contribution it can make toward the shaping or formulation of security arrangements and other such forms of regional cooperation.

6. Conclusion The parties stated their intent to keep South East Asia free from any form or manner of interference by outside Powers and broaden the areas of cooperation.

7. The EndThank You