Asean struggles to forge closer ties
Tuesday, 31 July 2007
John Burton and Roel Landingin, FT Syndication Service
MANILA: Rifts among south-east Asian countries over a new regional charter threatened on Monday to undermine efforts to forge closer economic integration and counter growing competition from China and India.
A proposed mini-constitution for the 10-member Association of South-East Asian Nations was submitted to the group's foreign ministers, but failed to include provisions that would help speed decision-making by the organisation to achieve a planned economic union by 2015.
The Philippines, chairing Asean this year, had been pushing for replacing the group's consensual approach to decision-making with a majority voting system and imposing sanctions on members guilty of serious violations of the charter.
But neither proposal was contained in the draft agreement, drawn up by a group of the region's elder statesmen, aimed at making Asean a more effective, rule-based organisation.
However, Asean's foreign ministers agreed to set up a regional human rights commission that initially was vetoed by Burma, which has been condemned for its record. Burma was originally slated to host this year's Asean meetings but decided to forego the opportunity due to pressure from other Asean members.
Alberto Romulo, the Philippines foreign minister, said the establishment of the human rights commission was necessary for improving the group's international credibility and preventing undue meddling by western countries in the region's domestic affairs.
Burma's human rights record is likely to be an important issue in scheduled talks between Asean and the European Union on a proposed trade agreement.
"The world is looking to (Burma) to live up to its promises, and to Asean to encourage progressive development in our region, which must entail improvements in both human security and freedom," said Mr Romulo.
Efforts to strengthen the charter could still be made when Asean leaders meeting in Singapore in November are expected to sign the agreement that could affect the lives of more than 500m people.
But the differences underscore divisions within the group about how to proceed with Asean's development. Richer members, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, favour faster decision-making. Asean's poorest and newest members - Burma, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos - want a consensual approach.
The more economically advanced Asean members hope to promote faster integration by offering to finance development projects in the poorest countries and reduce the inequality gap.
"In a region that is getting deeper into integration, there is danger of losing sight of the very essence of a community: helping each other. This is not a race of who gets richer first," said Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Philippines president, in opening the meeting.
MANILA: Rifts among south-east Asian countries over a new regional charter threatened on Monday to undermine efforts to forge closer economic integration and counter growing competition from China and India.
A proposed mini-constitution for the 10-member Association of South-East Asian Nations was submitted to the group's foreign ministers, but failed to include provisions that would help speed decision-making by the organisation to achieve a planned economic union by 2015.
The Philippines, chairing Asean this year, had been pushing for replacing the group's consensual approach to decision-making with a majority voting system and imposing sanctions on members guilty of serious violations of the charter.
But neither proposal was contained in the draft agreement, drawn up by a group of the region's elder statesmen, aimed at making Asean a more effective, rule-based organisation.
However, Asean's foreign ministers agreed to set up a regional human rights commission that initially was vetoed by Burma, which has been condemned for its record. Burma was originally slated to host this year's Asean meetings but decided to forego the opportunity due to pressure from other Asean members.
Alberto Romulo, the Philippines foreign minister, said the establishment of the human rights commission was necessary for improving the group's international credibility and preventing undue meddling by western countries in the region's domestic affairs.
Burma's human rights record is likely to be an important issue in scheduled talks between Asean and the European Union on a proposed trade agreement.
"The world is looking to (Burma) to live up to its promises, and to Asean to encourage progressive development in our region, which must entail improvements in both human security and freedom," said Mr Romulo.
Efforts to strengthen the charter could still be made when Asean leaders meeting in Singapore in November are expected to sign the agreement that could affect the lives of more than 500m people.
But the differences underscore divisions within the group about how to proceed with Asean's development. Richer members, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, favour faster decision-making. Asean's poorest and newest members - Burma, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos - want a consensual approach.
The more economically advanced Asean members hope to promote faster integration by offering to finance development projects in the poorest countries and reduce the inequality gap.
"In a region that is getting deeper into integration, there is danger of losing sight of the very essence of a community: helping each other. This is not a race of who gets richer first," said Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Philippines president, in opening the meeting.