The document discusses regional relations and ASEAN. It provides background on ASEAN's formation in 1967 with 5 countries to promote economic and social development, protect peace and stability, and allow peaceful dispute resolution. It now has 10 members. It discusses Singapore's participation in ASEAN, including the ASEAN Free Trade Area, ASEAN Regional Forum, and ASEAN Scholarship program. Regional relations are emphasized as being important for strength in numbers and for smaller countries to have their voices heard.

1. Regional
Diplomacy
Randall Heng
Seryun Tang
Chew Zhi Yong
1

2. Regional Relations
• An association of countries in a region
• Will be in better position when dealing with other
countries or associations.
• European Union (EU)
• South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
(SAARC)
• Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Textbook Page 181

3. ASEAN
• Established in 1967 with 5 countries
• Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines
and Thailand
• Currently 10 members
• Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia
Textbook Page 181

4. Why was ASEAN
formed?
• Southeast Asia was going through economic,
political and security challenges.
• Southeast Asian political leaders saw the need for a
regional organization to maintain stability and build
trust.
• Thus, ASEAN was formed.
Textbook Page 182

5. Three aims of
ASEAN
• Promote economic, social and cultural development
of the region;
• Protect the peace and stability of the region; and
• Provide opportunities for member countries to
discuss and resolve differences peacefully.
Textbook Page 181

6. Singapore’s
Participation in ASEAN
• ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)
• ASEAN Regional Forum ( ARF)
• ASEAN Scholarship

7. ASEAN Free Trade
Area (AFTA)
• The AFTA agreement was signed on 28 January 1992
in Singapore.
• The primary goals of AFTA seek to:
• increase ASEAN's competitive edge as a
production base in the world market through the
elimination, within ASEAN, of tariffs and non-
tariff barriers; and
• Attract more foreign direct investment to ASEAN.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASEAN_Free_Trade_Area

8. ASEAN Regional
Forum (ARF)
• The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is a formal,
official, multilateral dialogue in Asia Pacific region.
• As of July 2007, it is consisted of 27 participants.
• ARF objectives are to foster dialogue and
consultation, and promote confidence-building and
preventive diplomacy in the region.
• The current participants in the ARF are as follows: all
the ASEAN members, Australia,Bangladesh, Canada,
the People's Republic of China, the European Union,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asean#Regional_Forum

9. ASEAN Scholarship
• It is a scholarship program offered by the
Government of Singapore to 9 ASEAN Countries.
• Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, The Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
• The ASEAN Scholarships aim to provide
opportunities to the young people of ASEAN to
develop their potential and equip them with skills
that will enable them to confidently step into the
new millennium.
http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/scholarships/asean/

10. Benefits of
Singapore’s
15
A drop in average
taxes after the launch
11.25
of AFTA
7.5
3.75
0
1993 2003
Year

11. Why is Regional Relations
the most important?
• Strength always come in numbers.
• Therefore the strength of ASEAN is definitely much
stronger than that established in Bilateral
Relationships.

12. Why is Regional Relations
the most important?
• However, when the association becomes to big, it is
very difficult to voice opinions.
• It is very difficult to express opinions since Singapore
is a very small country as compared to the rest of the
world.
• Therefore International Relationships are not as
important as Regional Relationships.