Today, August 8, is Asean Day. Her flag will be hoisted permanently from now on along the national flags of 10 member countries in front of their embassies abroad. It is definitely the Asean D-Day in the truest sense of the word, telling the world the Asean Community has now arrived - symbolically at least.
Indonesia has been the first member to raise the flag alongside its own ahead of time in front of some of its 129 embassies and consulate offices overseas. Other members have chosen Monday to do it. Asean agreed to follow the rule after the drafting of the charter and the members are encouraged to do it by Monday. Thailand will only raise the Asean flag as soon as the 10-day mourning period for Princess Petcharat Rajsuda Sirisopaphana-wadee ends as the Thai flag is now flying at half-mast. Some Asean members will not be able to fulfil the gesture due to financial constraints. To erect an extra flag pole in several dozen countries all at once can be a mammoth task and costly, so additional time is required. They prefer to focus on other aspects of Asean identity such playing the Asean theme song, the Asean Way, and educational activities.
In retrospect, Asean's real value lies within its projected image which has made the dialogue partners - 10 in all - be taken seriously - sometimes too seriously. Recently, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton even wrote to her South Korean counterpart Kim Sung Hwan urging his country to quickly open a permanent representative (PR) office in Jakarta where the Asean Secretariat is located. There was good reason why she acted as a cheerleader for Asean. Just look back since 2009 after the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, Washington's level playing field in Southeast Asia gets bigger and deeper. Clinton understands the huge potential and strategic value of Asean more than her precious predecessors-promoting Asean means promoting US interests. At the same time, the US overall influence and strategic imperatives would be strengthened if another important ally had a PR office in Jakarta. So far, only the US and Japan have established their PR offices. China and Australia are following in the same footsteps.
Unique situation
The grouping's long-standing fulcrum for major powers to engage each other is unique. They feel comfortable with Asean knowing full well that it poses no threat and is enemy to none. In the past decade, major powers have used the Asean platform to increase mutual rapport and confidence.
The revival in 2008 of the trilateral summit of China, Japan and South Korea which stalled in 2003, was a case in the point. The new prospect of peace talks between the two Koreas also took place at the Asean meeting in Bali last month. Strategically, both the US and China constantly use the regional venue for their power projections and negotiations. Now defence ministers and security officials have their own forums to discuss their concerns.
In mid-November in Bali, Asean will be under the world's microscope as Indonesia will host the expanded East Asia Summit. The region's most important summit this year will bring together leaders of 18 countries of all sizes and powers so they can work out their regional and global agendas. For the first time, Asean is engaging with the leaders from the US, Russia, China and India directly with its own agenda setting.
The fact that the international community is according more and more recognition to Asean is a good manifestation of its growing relevance. As of last week, 60 countries have exchanged diplomatic credentials with the Asean Secretariat in Jakarta.The Vatican was the latest to do so after Malaysia and Vietnam concurred with the rest of Asean. In short, nearly one-third of UN members have already established ties with Asean.
It is not wrong to say it is fast becoming a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy as the Asean reputation increases due to rule-based values and a people-centred community-building process, Asean will be under the global watch list to do the right things.
In that sense, the bloc has come a long way and has changed quite a bit since its charter took effect in December 2008. Asean often boasts its charter is more savvy than the Lisbon Treaty of the European Union as it is shorter, made in one language (English) and equipped with a theme song and a common slogan-One Vision, One Identity, One Community.
Difficulties over Burma
With such awareness, it is harder for Asean to make a quick decision as in the past. That helps explain the difficulty Asean counters over whether to grant Burma the 2014 chair. Back in 1997, it was easy to admit Burma without any conditions - it was admitted on fast-track due to fear of China's growing influence. Asean completely ignored criticism and opposition from the Western dialogue partners.
Now, just look at the ongoing struggle and face-saving schemes the rest of Asean members have to go through to justify the admission of Burma. However, at this juncture, the Western views on Burma - such as those emanating from the US and EU - are of values and weightier issues that cannot be taken for granted. Asean economic well-being and prosperity are closely linked to the Western economies. Anything that can undermine these relations must not be encouraged.
Timor Leste's future in Asean was another example. The membership has been extensively discussed and a decision not made. If Timor Leste was independent back then in the 1990's, Asean would today have a total of 11 members; possible problems impacted on economic integration and other aspects of community-building would not be hindrances. As a rule-based organisation, Asean is changing its mindset.
For over four decades Asean was a mere consultative organisation without any compliant mechanism. It has turned into a grouping that makes decisions affecting the region and the world as well.
Asean has lifted its percentage of compliance to over 80 per cent. That was impressive compared to around 30 per cent before the birth of the Asean charter.
The most interesting development is the expanding role of the Asean chair and the good offices of the Asean Secretariat. Indonesia increased the chair's profile by leaps and bounds when Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa visited Thailand and Cambodia, after they exchanged gunfire, to lessen tension and attempted to secure peace.
He is helping the two members to attain a permanent ceasefire at the border. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, the Asean chief, played a pivotal role during the rehabilitation of Burma following Cyclone Nargis after May 2008. Surin's enhanced role has also increased the grouping's standing and expanded various networks in international arenas.
By Kavi Chongkittavorn in Bangkok/The NationBusiness & Investment Opportunities
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