Analysis on how ASEAN can reach a level of Political Union

1. THE WAY FORWARD
TO POLITICAL UNION

2. ASEAN
Political-
Security
Community
APSC

3. A
P
S
C
overview
The ASEAN Political Security Community aims to
secure the region.
The country is in a good neighborly, friendly, just,
democratic and harmonious environment.
Members of the Community guarantee that they
will fully follow the peace process when resolving
differences in the region, and regarding national
security as the fundamental link connecting other
countries, due to geographical location and
mutual willingness
The scene and the goal are closely linked.

4. A
P
S
C
goals
• A rules-based community that fully adheres to ASEAN
fundamental principles, shared values and norms as
well as principles of international law governing the
peaceful conduct of relations among states.
• Peaceful, secure and stable region.Preserve
Southeast Asia as a region free from nuclear weapons
and other weapons of mass destruction, while
contributing to global efforts on disarmament non-
proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
• Strengthen ASEAN’s unity, cohesion and central
position,Strengthen contacts with other external
parties.
• Streamline ASEAN work processes and improve
coordination among ASEAN Organs.

5. A
P
S
C
progress
• ASEANAPOL
• ASEAN plan of action to Prevent and
counter the RISE of Radicalization and
violent Extremism
• AHA Center (ASEAN coordinating
center for humanitarian Assistance on
disaster management
• ARMAC (ASEAN Regional Mine Action
Centre)

6. A
P
S
C
progress
ASEANPOL
● Regional Police Organization to prevent
transnational crime
● Cooperate and share new tactics and system
● Working with police organization in other countries
○ Partners with Well-known police organization all over the world

7. A
P
S
C
progress
ASEAN plan of action to Prevent and counter
the RISE of Radicalization and violent Extremism on 2018
• Strengthen good governance
• Human right
• Engage with communities
(esp. vulnerable to radicalization and violent extremism)
• Promote gender equality
• Work with religious leader to promote moderation and
tolerance
• Counter - Terrorism
• Counter - cyber attack

8. A
P
S
C
progress
AHA Center (ASEAN coordinating center for
humanitarian Assistance on disaster management
• Disaster Monitoring - disaster identification and
early warning
• Prepare and Response - Develop tools for natural
disaster and set up disaster strategy
• Capacity Building - To build a disaster-resilient
region

9. A
P
S
C
progress
ARMAC (ASEAN Regional Mine Action Centre)
• Raise awareness on dangers of mine and ERW
(Explosive remnants of War)
• Appropriate medical and rehabilitation
assistance for victims of ERW
• Research and knowledge sharing on the ERW
within ASEAN members.
• Technical assistance and funding for ERW-relate
request

10. A
P
S
C
OT
THREATS + OPPORTUNITIES
▪ ROHINGYA CRISIS
▪ Ethnic cleansing of 671,000
Rohingya Muslims by military
▪ Denied citizenship
▪ Largest stateless populations .
▪ WHY ASEAN COMMUNITY NOT
ABLE TO SOLVE IT
▪ ASEAN ‘s two clauses
▪ Non-interference Policy
▪ Consensus Building and Veto
▪ WHAT CAN BE DONE
▪ Article 50 of the ASEAN Charter
which states:“This Charter may be
reviewed five years ….”
▪ Adopting two thirds majority rule
like United Nations.
▪ SOUTH CHINA SEA
▪ ROHINGYA CRISIS
▪ HUMAN
TRAFFICKING IN
ASEAN

11. A
P
S
C
OT
▪ FOREIGN POWER INFLUENCE
▪ WATER CONFLICTS
▪ CHINA
▪ Certain Asean members are cosier
with China.
▪ Cambodia and Philippines are
China's closest ally.
▪ Asean unable to speak with one voice
and will lose its power and position on
the world's stage.
▪ WHAT CAN BE DONE
▪ Strong common policy is critical.
▪ Work closely by sharing
intelligence and standing together
THREATS + OPPORTUNITIES

12. A
P
S
C
Political Union
Next step to achieve the goals
• Review and Revise the Charter.
• Freedom of Expression.
• Weak democracy, high corruption
• Strong common policy
• Assistance to less developed members

13. ASEAN
Economic
Community
AEC

14. A
E
C
overview
Founded in 2015
Rather a symbolic step,
no immediate results were expected
Initiation of the AEC Blueprint 2025

15. A
E
C
goals
A Highly
Integrated
and Cohesive
Economy
A
Competitive,
Innovative
and Dynamic
ASEAN
Enhanced
Connectivity
and Sectoral
Cooperation
A Resilient,
Inclusive,
People-
Oriented and
People-
Centred
ASEAN
A Global
ASEAN

16. A
E
C
progress
Elimination of tariffs and facilitation of trade
Strengthening relationships with external partners
Promoting connectivity
Liberalising & facilitating cross ASEAN investments
Advancing the services trade liberalisation agenda
Harmonising capital market regulation laws
Facilitating free movement of skilled labour
Development of ASEAN wide competition policies
Protecting intellectual property & consumer rights
Narrowing the development gap

17. A
E
C
OT
Opportunities Threats
o Increased standardization fosters
easier and faster decision
making and acting.
o Skilled labor movement
increases innovation.
o Increased competition results in
lower prices and leads to higher
consumption rates.
o Sustainable consumption and
protection of natural resources
ensures long-lasting growth.
o Less developed economies face
higher competition in attracting
FDIs.
o Bigger lack of skilled labor in less
developed economies.
o SMEs that struggle in scaling up
production and distribution lose
market relevance.
o Less developed economies
depend on leveraging natural
resources in order to reach higher
economic attractiveness.

18. A
E
C
Political Union
Successful ASEAN economic community serves as proof to
the 660 Million people that cooperation is key for each
nation in order to shrive and become more prosperous.
 Easy to measure, e.g. GDP growth rate comparisons.
 Convinces ASEAN population to increase integration.

19. A
E
C
Political Union
Goal-related measures to promote intraregional economic
success and promote greater integration.
AEC Blueprint 2025 goals Measures to reach the goals
A highly integrated and cohesive economy
• Establish standards esp. in
administrative and tax-relatedissues.
A competitive, innovative and dynamic
ASEAN
• Lower excise tax for products and
services made in ASEAN.
• Create an ASEAN “Silicon Valley”
sponsored by governments, institutions
and private organizations.
Enhanced connectivity and sectoral
cooperation
• Establish regular exchange forums for
key industries.
• Promote intranational industry alliances.
A resilient, inclusive, people-oriented and
people-centered ASEAN
• Longer tax exception for start-ups e.g.
first 5 years.
• Public-private partnerships.
A global ASEAN
• Enhanced trade-agreement with key
economic regions.

20. ASEAN
Socio-
Cultural
Community
ASCC

21. A
S
C
C
overview
Social agenda of the region
o Human development, social justice, ASEAN
identity
o Orientation tool for members’ activities
o Influences political and economical pillar
Social
Inequity
Economic
Development
Political
Stability

22. A
S
C
C
goals
ASCC 2015
Caring & Sharing Community
ASCC 2025
World of Opportunities
Human Development
Engages and Benefits the
People
Social Welfare and Protection
Inclusive
Social Justice and Rights
Ensuring Environmental
Sustainability
Sustainable
Resilient
Building ASEAN Identity Dynamic
Source : (1) ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025, Jakarta, ASEAN Secretariat, March 2016, ISBN 978-602-0980-
83-6 (2) 2015 ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Scorecard, Jakarta, ASEAN Secretariat: March 2016, ISBN 978-602-
0980-84-3

23. A
S
C
C
goals
2015
2025
ASEAN Identity
Less comprehensive
Equitable access

24. A
S
C
C
progress
completed,
8%
ongoing, 47%
remaining
years, 45%
Source: (1) https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/3.-ADOPTION_2017_ALD-on-AMR_Endorsed-13th-
AHMM.pdf (2) ASEAN Annual Report 2017-2018, Jakarta: ASEAN Secretariat, July 2018, ISBN 978-602-5798-10-8 (3)
ASEAN Annual Report 2016-2017, Jakarta, ASEAN Secretariat, July 2017, ISBN 978-602-6392-54-1
Total of 929 sectoral activities

25. A
S
C
C
OT
Opportunities
Threats
o Rising importance of ASEAN  realization of potential  people stick
together
o High Chinese investments  wake-up call to not sell the whole region
o Many different religions
o Industry 4.0  reduction of jobs  tensions in society
o Trade war USA vs. China
o Escalation of South Chinese Sea conflict
o Unequal investments in ASEAN countries
o If EU breaks apart  bad example for ASEAN

26. A
S
C
C
Political Union
ASEAN identity
 Exchange programs (schools, universities)
 School subject: ASEAN studies
Intervention of governments in international cultural
conflicts (border conflicts)
AEC
ASCC APSC

27. CONCLUSION
.
.
.
.
.

28. • Target picture of a political union serves as a vision in
the process of increasing cooperation.
• Three pillars influence as well as necessitate each other
and thus require equal handling.
• Achievement of the blueprint 2025 goals is critical as it
can provide proof for successful cooperation. This can
convince the ASEAN population, governments and
private corporations to pursue a higher integrated path
in the future which might lead to the highest form of
integration – a political union.

29. References
ASPC
12th AMMTC (Oct,2018): SEAN PLAN OF ACTION TO PREVENT AND COUNTER THE RISE OF RADICALISATION AND VIOLENT EXTREMISM. Retrieved from:
https://asean.org/storage/2012/05/Adopted-ASEAN-PoA-to-Prevent-and-Counter-PCVE.pdf
AHA Center (n.d.): What we do. Retrieved from: https://ahacentre.org/what-we-do/
ARMAC (2018): ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center Regional Workshop 2018. Retrieved from: https://2018workshop.aseanmineaction.org/
ASEANAPOL (n.d. ): Objective of ASEANAPOL. Retrieved from: http://www.aseanapol.org/about-aseanapol/permanent-secretariat
ASEANAPOL (2018): ASEANAPOL BULLETIN. Retrieved from: http://www.aseanapol.org/docs/default-source/bulletin/aseanapol-bulletin-2018.pdf?sfvrsn=2 [p. 15]
EUROPOL (2016): Europol and ASEANAPOL agree upon enhanced cooperation Retrieved from: https://www.europol.europa.eu/newsroom/news/europol-and-aseanapol-
agree-upon-enhanced-cooperation
Heditia Damanik & Helga Yohana Simatupang (2014) Conflicts in ASEAN. Retrieved from:
https://www.academia.edu/38441364/The_Probability_of_APSC_to_Interfere_the_Intrastate_Conflict_of_ASEAN_s_Member_State.pdf
Oliver Hensengerth (2017): Water Conflicts. Retrieved from: https://theasiadialogue.com/2017/08/24/water-conflicts-and-development-in-the-mekong-what-role-for-
asean/
Potential threats (2017): Retrieved from https://lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/gia/article/a-closer-look-at-potential-threats-to-asean-s-stability
United Nations (2013): Human Trafficking in ASEAN. Retrieved from: http://un-act.org/publication/view/sold-sea-human-trafficking-thailands-fishing-industry

30. References
AEC
ASEAN Secretariat (2015): ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025.
ASEAN Secretariat (2017): ASEAN: A Community of Opportunities.
AZ (2015): Südostasiatische Staaten gründen Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft. Retrieved from: https://www.aargauerzeitung.ch/wirtschaft/suedostasiatische-staaten-gruenden-
wirtschaftsgemeinschaft-129753102.
Dr. Schanz, Alms and Company (2017): Overview of AEC Project. Retrieved from: https://pulse.schanz-alms.com/asean-insurance-pulse/2017/aec-project-overview.html#i_223_223

31. ASEAN Secretariat (n.d.): The ASEAN Socio Cultural Community. Plan of Action. Retrieved from: https://asean.org/?static_post=the-asean-socio-cultural-community-ascc-plan-of-
action
ASEAN Secretariat (2016a): ASEAN Socia-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025. Retrieved from: https://asean.org/storage/2016/01/ASCC-Blueprint-2025.pdf
ASEAN Secretariat (2016b): 2015 ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Scorecard. Retrieved from: https://www.asean.org/storage/2016/04/9.-March-2016-2015-ASCC-Scorecard-
1.pdf
ASEAN Secretariat (2017): ASEAN Annual Report 2016-2017. Retrieved from: https://asean.org/?attachment_id=62499
ASEAN Secretariat (2018): ASEAN Annual Report 2017-2018. Retrieved from: https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ASEAN-Annual-Report-2017-2018.pdf
The Department of ASEAN Affairs (n.d.): The ASEAN Community : ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC). Retrieved from: http://www.mfa.go.th/asean/en/organize/5682/62213-
ASEAN-Socio-Cultural-Community-(ASCC).html
https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/3.-ADOPTION_2017_ALD-on-AMR_Endorsed-13th-AHMM.pdf
References
ASCC