26/04/2023

Week 12

Regional Cooperation
in Asia
BY TA THI OANH
Faculty of International Studies

Main points of this session

I/ Asian cooperation
II/ Regional Organisations & Mechanisms

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I/ Regional cooperation
v Regional cooperation refers to cooperation between
several nations for their own mutual benefits. It is
based on a spirit of mutual respect and
understanding.

v The idea of regional cooperation preceded

globalisation.
v Globalisation has promoted strongly cooperation
among states, especially countries in the same region.

Regional cooperation

v Many forms

v Many purposes

v Many areas & levels

v Many regulations/ rules

v Many players

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History of regional cooperation in Asia

v Efforts at regional cooperation took off after WWII.
v The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was a cooperative
military efforts among 28 European countries, the US and Turkey. It was
initiated by the US and its allies to prevent the influence of communism
after WWII.
v Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) consisted of the US,
UK, France, Australia, NZ, the Philippines, Thailand, Pakistan. It was
established to prevent the influence of communism in SEA.
v Other efforts: Association of Southeast Asia (ASA) 1961; The
Greater Malayan Confederation (Maphilindo)-1963; ASEAN -
1967…

Forms of cooperation

1. Bilateral cooperation
2. Multilateral cooperation
3. Minilateral cooperation
All of these forms have co-existed in global/ regional governance since 1945.
The end of the Cold War created chances for states to promote relations
multilaterally.

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Bilateral cooperation
v Bilateral cooperation/ Bilateralism refers to the political, economic,
social, and cultural cooperation between two players/ states in
international relations.
v Bilateral relations date back ancient time.
v Bilateral cooperation between two sovereign states is a modern
concept.
vModern bilateral cooperation between states has basic principles:
vSovereignty (independent & autonomous + legal equality)
vNon-intervention (in domestic affairs)
vNo use of force
vPeaceful means of dispute settlement
vInternational commitment/laws

Multilateral cooperation
v Multilateral cooperation/ Multilateralism refers to “the practice of
coordinating national policies in groups of three or more states,
through ad hoc arrangements or by means of institutions” (Keohane,
1990)
v Membership: more than 3 states (unlimited)
vAims: international/ regional
v Issues of concern: various issues
v Budget: contributed to by states

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Theories of multilateralism

The Association of Southeast Asian

Nations (ASEAN)

The Gulf Cooperation Council

(GCC)

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Minilateral cooperation
v Minilateral cooperation/ Minilateralism refers to a form of
multilateral cooperation where a small number of countries in a
limited territorial and functional context work together to address
specific issues.
v Based on multilateralism, regional minilateralism is established to
serve as an additional tool for parties to deal with issues that are most
critical to them (specific conditions and needs)

(Harlen, 2018)

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Minilateral cooperation
v A subset of multilateralism
vMembership: limited
vAims: regional
vIssues of concern: a specific issue
v Budget: contributed by states

Minilateralism is considered as a smarter, more targeted and pragmatic

approach for states to cooperate and to create real impacts.

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Advantages of minilateralism
v Thanks to a small and limited membership, minilateral institutions and
frameworks make it easier to define interests and implement cooperation,
v The framework is more manageable and cost-effective while it is faster to
establish new minilateral mechanisms and implement relevant projects and
programs,
v Minilateralism offers more flexibility as it is easier to adjust a cooperative
agenda when needed.

è The smaller is better

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Cooperation among China, Thailand, Cambodia,

Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam over the use of
Mekong river

Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development
Triangle Area (CLV)

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AUKUS – US, UK, Australia à for

security cooperation in the Indo-
Pacific

The QUAD- Quadrilateral Security

Dialogue (US, Australia, India, Japan)
à for security cooperation

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Areas of cooperation
1. Economy
2. Military
3. Politics
4. Legal cooperation
5. Social matters
…

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II/ Regional organisations in Asia

v Regional organisations (Regionalism) are defined as institutionalized
cooperation among three or more countries within a geographic space.

v Regional organisations have become a central feature of international

politics since the end of World War II.

v The emergence of regional organisations was a rational response by

policy-makers to collective action problems associated with economic
interdependence, under region-specific conditions, cultures and
dynamics.

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Dilemmas Facing States.

• Security
• Welfare
• Environmental Collective action
is the key solution
• Globalisation
• Geography
• Migration
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Regional
organisations
in Asia
v Diversity

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Regional organisations in Asia

v Sub-regional organisations
v Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD)
vSoutheast Asia: ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
v South Asia: SAARC (South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation)
v Inter-regional organisations & mechanisms
v ASEAN+3, ASEAN+1, ARF, EAS, ADMM+
v SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation)
v APEC
v CP-TPP
v PIF (Pacific Islands Forum)
v LMI, FLM
vCIS (Commonwealth of Independent States)
v ….

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Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN

Economic, social, political cooperation

Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN)
Nuclear Weapons-Free Zone
ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)
Social cooperation: culture, IT, education, environment, health, workforce, social development, poverty eradication
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Issues faced by ASEAN

1/ Lack of consensus on the South China Sea disputes
2/ the persistence of intra-ASEAN territorial conflicts
3/ ASEAN Centrality
4 transnational security threats
5/ balance of power in the Asia Pacific

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South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation

(SAARC)
The SAARC is an economic and political organisation, consisting of 7 nations in South Asia formed in 1985 (~1.5
billion people)
Its initial focus: agriculture, rural development, telecommunications, meteorology, and health

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SAARC objectives
v Improving the welfare and quality of life of South Asians
v Accelerating economic growth, social and cultural development
within the region.
v Promoting and strengthening inter-dependence between South Asian
nations
v Promoting cooperation and assistance between nations
v Strengthening cooperation with other developing countries

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Issues faced by SAARC

1/ Only 5% trade within SAARC nations
2/ The supremacy of India
3/ The India-Pakistan Kashmir dispute
4/ Lack of bilateral agreements/ relations
5/ FTAs do not encourage importing and exporting activities
6/ Current presence of big powers in the region

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Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

v The GCC is a political and economic

combination of West Asian countries
bordering the Persian Gulf.
v It consists of 6 states. All these nations
have great oil reserves.
v The GCC was established in 1981 as a
military federation after the Iran-Iraq
war. When Kuwait was attacked by Iraq
(1991), the GCC agreed to form a joint
military led by Saudi Arabia.

GCC Summit

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Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD)

v The ACD was formed in 2002 after the 18
Asian foreign ministers met up for the first
time.
vThe ACD is a forum that aims to increase
the competitiveness of Asian nations
focusing on the wealth and diversity of the
Asian continent.
v Since its inception, the ACD ministers met
annually.

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ACD Objectives
v Strengthening cooperation between member states in order to abolish
poverty and increase the quality of life in Asia
v Widening the financial and trade market in Asia and increase Asia’s
competitiveness in the world market.
v Creating a uniquely Asian community that is able to interact with
other nations and contribute to world peace and stability.

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ACD Projects
v Agriculture – China, Pakistan, and Kazakhstan
v E-education- Malaysia
v Energy – Bahrain, Indonesia, the Philippines, Qatar
v Environmental education- Japan
v Finance – Thailand
v IT – South Korea
v Natural Disasters - Russia
v Poverty Elimination – Bangladesh, Cambodia, Vietnam
v Tourism – Thailand, Pakistan, Myanmar

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Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

(APEC)

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Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

(APEC)
v APEC is an economic forum consisting of nations bordering the
Pacific Ocean.
v APEC was established in 1989.
v Aim: to strengthen regional economic growth by promoting
multilateral ties.
v It consists of 21 states: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, HK
(China), Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New
Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Russia, Thailand, Taiwan
(China), the US, NZ, Vietnam

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Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

(APEC)
v APEC countries collectively make up 60% of the world’s economy
and 47% of the world’s trade.
v Economic cooperation between APEC countries differs slightly from
other regional cooperation efforts (ASEAN) as it is more volunteer-
based. This means the efforts are more flexible and non-binding.
v Decisions are made through consensus and mutual recognition of the
different levels of economic development of each member state.
v Leaders of member states meet annually

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Cooperation is better and more

beneficial than confrontation

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