The ASEAN institution and Superpower Rivalries
The 42nd ASEAN Summit will be held in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai regency, East Nusa Tenggara from 9-11 May. How does Indonesia, together with all ASEAN members, anticipate these challenges?
Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi
Geopolitical competition between a number of superpowers in Southeast Asia and East Asia will become increasingly hard and long-lasting. This has an impact on the stability and security of the region and brings complications for many sectors.
This year, Indonesia received the ASEAN leadership relay. The 42nd ASEAN Summit will be held in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai regency, East Nusa Tenggara from 9-11 May.
How does Indonesia, together with all ASEAN members, anticipate these challenges?
Meanwhile, in recent years ASEAN has placed itself as an important economic block in the global arena. In the future, ASEAN has the opportunity to get stronger if it is able to maintain this momentum.
In order to explore government policies, Kompas interviewed Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Jakarta on Friday (28/4/2023). The following are excerpts.
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With the current geopolitical dynamics, does ASEAN need a new instrument or protocol?
Without any additional protocols, we already have the TAC [Treaty of Amity and Cooperation] for example. It has become a very strong instrument to fortify us so that our region remains stable and peaceful as it regulates the behavior of amity and cooperation. We don't want our place to be one of rivalry. Therefore, when there is a statement related to stability and so on, the TAC is used as a reference.
So, one, we already have an instrument. Two, if we look at the commitments in every meeting, almost all leaders from ASEAN always say the [biggest] commitment is that we must protect ASEAN and we do not want Southeast Asia to become a place of rivalry. This was last conveyed by Pak Jokowi in February when he received the ASEAN foreign ministers.
A woman takes a photo of flags of ASEAN countries lined up at the Bintang Flores Hotel, Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara on Tuesday (2/5/2023).
We certainly know and all must experience that when we join an organization, we should be clever in balancing between how to meet our national interests and our responsibilities as part of an association or organization.
We must really be smart in balancing it, navigating it so that our national interests are not damaged, but also without damaging organizational principles. If Southeast Asia is damaged, can it advance national interests? If something happens with Southeast Asia, are we really not affected? [The nation] will certainly be affected.
With the variety of interests and maneuvers of its members, is ASEAN divided?
ASEAN consists of 10 [member countries]. The 10 have different approaches. However, when faced with a big issue that becomes the interests of all, the hope is that by becoming a member of ASEAN, we can be united.
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Is it time to change the ASEAN charter?
We have not gone as far as discussing the charter, but we must be honest and ask ourselves, is the current system agile? This is a discussion that will be continued. If [the charter] is not enough, what needs to be done next?
How to keep ASEAN agile and sturdy?
ASEAN matters only if ASEAN is strengthened. So, the effort is more internal.
The way to strengthen ASEAN is, among other means, by strengthening unity. Without unity there will be no centrality. Without centrality, ASEAN will not matter anymore.
To strengthen, in addition to unity and centrality, we must increase our capacity to be able to face future challenges.
Without unity there will be no centrality. Without centrality, ASEAN will not matter anymore.
All of this is part of documents that are being negotiated for the 42nd Summit. One regarding Vision Post-2040. This is what we call Vision 2045. Why think up to 2045? Because this is about building a foundation.
So, the whole thing [all agendas] will not be adopted now. However, building the foundation and then bringing the process to 2045 – this is a long-term vision that has been built as its foundation by Indonesia.
Second, [compiling] special documents that contain how we increase capacity, including how ASEAN responds to any emergency situation in a timely manner. Also trying to develop or strengthen institutions that are not only resilient, but also agile. Being agile in the sense of surfing in a very liquid and dynamic situation.
While on holiday with his family, President Joko Widodo reviewed the preparations for the Asean Summit in detail and thoroughly to receive the presence of Heads of State/Heads of Government from Asean member countries, in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, Tuesday (25/4/2023).
This will be the leaders’ documents. Later, the documents will assign the ACC [ASEAN Coordination Council], the foreign ministers. Then there is HLTF ACV [High Level Task Force on ASEAN Community Vision]. The Vision [ASEAN 2045] is not discussed directly by the government, but by the HLTF to then be recommended to the government.
Therefore, later at the 42nd [summit] there will be interaction between the leaders and HLTF. From the recommendations, the leaders will ask the foreign ministers to follow up.
Then, in order to be agile and strong, the problem of trafficking in persons by abuse of technology [human trafficking using technology] needs to be tackled. ASEAN will be helpless and unable to be agile if the people are undermined by trafficking crimes like that.
Lastly, in the internal context of ASEAN, there is a preparation for the Timor Leste [ASEAN membership] road map.
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Indonesia chooses the theme ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth. ASEAN Matters pillars have been explained, what about the Epicentrum of Growth?
This is more to economic resilience. How can we be sturdy, peaceful, if the economy is not tough? This is also leads to stability, unity and ASEAN centrality, so that ASEAN is able to become a locomotive of peace and stability. This is toughness in geopolitics.
For its economy, it is translated into concrete things. One, regarding health. Second, the protection of migrant workers in a crisis situation, like in Sudan today.
Third, there will be discussions and documents for the development of the ASEAN Village Network. How do villages know how to commit digitization? In ASEAN, except Singapore, villages are the economic foundations. The villages must be strengthened so that there is economic resilience. In order to make ASEAN strong. This means that this will include MSMEs [micro, small and medium enterprises] and so on.
For the green economy, there is the development of EV [electric vehicle] regional ecosystems and regional payment regulations [payment among countries]. All will be discussed at the 42nd summit.
Why does ASEAN need to issue its own version for Indo-Pacific views?
In the Indo-Pacific, [countries] issue principles. We want the Indo-Pacific not only to be approached from the security aspects, but also from the aspect of development and economy. We are a majority of developing countries. When talking to developing countries, the populations are concerned with the economy.
This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.
