Issue 19 | April 2016

www.rsis.edu.sg/research/cms/ Issue 19 | April 2016

ASEAN and the EU: Dif- ASEAN and the EU: Different Paths to Community ferent Paths to Communi- ty Building Building By Ong Keng Yong and Kyaw San Wai page 1 - 2

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ADBI-RSIS Book Launch on “New Global Economic Architecture: The Asian Perspective” page 3

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World Trade Organisation for the 21st Century: The Asian Perspective page 3

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Fulbright Scholar Dr Alice World Map - Abstract Acrylic. Courtesy of Flickr account of Nicolas Raymond and used under a creative D. Ba at RSIS commons license. Copyright Nicolas Raymond. page 3 LEADERS OF the Association of South- were not at all sure that the ASEAN ——————————- east Asian Nations at their annual sum- Community had secured the region’s mit on 22 November 2015 formally es- peace and stability. Economists, for their RSIS-NBS Capacity- tablished the ASEAN Community. The part, debated the value-added contribu- Building Programme page 4 realisation of the ASEAN Community is tion of the ASEAN Community to Asia’s a momentous milestone in ASEAN’s his- dynamism and growth trajectory. The bottom line, in the view of many quar- ——————————- tory but has met with lukewarm respons- es from various sectors of ASEAN socie- ters, was a negative for ASEAN’s com- ty. Pundits questioned whether ASEAN munity-building effort.

had really become a community – they The bigger picture had compared ASEAN with the Europe-

an Union, and were disappointed that While these commentators have raised ASEAN does not measure up to the lev- important points, there is another side of

el of integration achieved by the EU. the coin. It is crucial for everybody to There was nothing like the European appreciate what actually happened. The

Parliament or the European Court of launch of the ASEAN Community is part Justice. Social activists argued that the of the strategic move by ASEAN leaders ordinary citizens of ASEAN are mostly to get Southeast Asian countries to stay unaware of the community-building pro- on the collective path of peaceful and cess or see no benefit from being part of sustainable development and make the Editorial Team it. organisation attractive as a viable politi- cal and economic partner for external Tan Ming Hui The business sector claimed that com- Aédán Mordecai powers interested in the region. mercial transactions and investments across Southeast Asia are still challeng- Despite each ASEAN member state hav- For enquiries or com- ing, with high and unprofitable cost of ing its own policy towards the major ments about Multilateral Matters, please email to doing business. Skilled workers cannot powers engaging Southeast Asia, there [email protected] or move or work freely across national bor- is a shared strategic outlook that the [email protected] ders as in the EU. Political strategists Continued on page 2

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Issue 19 | April 2016

Continued from page 1 necine World Wars and external trading partner at the areas covered in func- ideological divide of the US$248 billion for 2014 – tional cooperation. grouping should maintain Cold War, followed the around 10% of ASEAN’s a key role in the regional These platforms have modality of building institu- total trade. It is also architecture, and that this brought about considera- tions and setting common ASEAN’s largest external can only be realised by ble people-to-people ex- rules to minimise sover- investor for 2012-2014 having all ten ASEAN changes which are at the eignty. with more than US$56 members hanging togeth- foundation of ASEAN-EU billion, with US$29 billion er. Pooling sovereignty is a connectivity. And through alone in 2014, amounting strategy aimed at reducing more sharing and regula- What the EU has achieved to around 22% of total FDI the potential for military tory convergence in the in integration is instructive, inflow. adventurism as witnessed areas where they can but is not the model for during the two World An ASEAN-EU Free Trade work together, there will ASEAN community- Wars. Integration across Agreement is unlikely in be increased mutual un- building. ASEAN remains the European continent the foreseeable future but derstanding to cement ties an inter-government body, provides better security, there is political under- between ASEAN and the distinct from the EU’s su- sustaining peace and de- standing for this with work EU. pra-national construct. velopment. on concluding bilateral Directly comparing Being the two regional FTAs proceeding, albeit ASEAN to the EU is not On the other hand, the integration works always slowly. The EU has con- apt. historical experiences of in the news these days, cluded negotiations with Southeast Asia are differ- comparing ASEAN and Though the ASEAN Com- and Vietnam, ent. Many of the ASEAN the EU will be unavoida- munity is a work-in- while talks with , member states are rela- ble. However, such direct progress, member states Myanmar and Thailand tively young independent comparisons are not ap- are committed to make it are ongoing. Going for- nations and view sover- propriate as the two work, albeit in a uniquely ward, the prospects for eignty as paramount and groupings originated from Southeast Asian way. Re- more trade and investment something to be jealously different circumstances ferred to as the “ASEAN are positive despite strong guarded. Building regional and are navigating through Way”, this is consensus- competition from else- institutions is still a nas- different terrains towards based decision-making at where. cent idea. Globalisation different destinations. Yet, a pace comfortable to all, and technological ad- Air connections between they face common chal- with non-interference in vancement have however ASEAN and EU cities by lenges in the 21st century domestic affairs and flexi- enhanced the need for airlines from both sides and they can certainly of- bility in implementing col- cooperation across nation- provide nearly a quarter of fer each other valuable lective agreements as al borders and ASEAN is a million seats per week. lessons in tackling the guiding principles. It is un- nimbly trying to adapt to In 2014, the EU was the complexities of govern- fair to say that ASEAN is the changes in global dy- second largest external ance at the national, re- an ineffective regional namics – by integrating source of tourism in gional and international body that fails to meet the the member states’ econo- ASEAN, with around 9.3 levels. ■ aspirations of the people mies and social systems in million arrivals. At the of Southeast Asia. In the Ong Keng Yong is Executive a strategic collective to same time, the EU is Southeast Asian context, Deputy Chairman at S. Raja- secure peace and devel- emerging as a preferred punitive measures and an ratnam School of Internation- opment. travel destination for the interventionist approach al Studies (RSIS), Nanyang burgeoning ASEAN middle Technological University, do not guarantee success. Substantive ties class. Singapore. Moral persuasion, cooper- Notwithstanding their dif- ation and collaboration Common challenges This article was originally ferences, ASEAN and the can yield positive out- published as part of the RSIS EU have worked hard to The relationship between comes, though more time Commentary. cultivate significant politi- ASEAN and EU countries is required. cal, economic and cultural is not based on business Different views ties over the years. Coop- and trade alone. In the eration and collaboration socio-cultural arena, there ASEAN and the EU are provide a mutuality of sup- are many projects that the two most prominent port and an exchange of have added to the web of regional integration pro- ideas and innovations linkages and substantive jects in the world today. beneficial for both. It is ties. Arts, biodiversity, ed- However, they arose out germane to highlight some ucation, environmental of different contexts and important facts that but- protection, pandemics, have different visions and tress the ASEAN-EU rela- post-disaster humanitarian missions. European inte- tionship. The EU is assistance and science & gration, after the two inter- ASEAN’s second largest technology are some of

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Issue 19 | April 2016 ADBI-RSIS Book Launch on “New Global Economic Architecture: The Asian

Perspective” On 6 January 2016, RSIS including Pradumna B. along with the ADB held a Rana, Associate Profes- book launch at the Man- sor of RSIS; Dr. Matthias darin Orchard, Singapore. Helble, research fellow of The session focused on the ADBI; Peter J. Mor- the changing trends of the gan, ADBI; and Robert current global economic Wihtol of the Asian Insti- architecture (GEA) and tute of Management, gave presented an overview of their views on different Associate Professor Pradumna Rana speaking at the event. the book, New Global aspects of future develop- GEA and how they might The AIIB and the decen- Economic Architecture ments of GEA. Topics cooperate successfully, tralisation of the GEA are (edited by Masahiro Ka- included the emergence as well as the role Asia significant developments wai, Peter Morgan, and of regional institutions, should play in the evolv- within current global af- Pradumna B. Rana). such as AIIB, and how ing decentralised architec- fairs, from both an eco- these institutions will exist ture. nomic and geopolitical Distinguished speakers, along with the incumbent viewpoint. ■ World Trade Organisation for the 21st Century: The Asian Perspective On 13 January 2016, velopment Bank (ADB), terms of trade facilitation completing soon. As a CMS held an event as and has many years of with many potential mile- result, the WTO is under part of the IPE Seminar experience in the field of stones affecting the land- pressure to evolve and series, titled ‘World Trade economic development scape. The TPP was adapt to the changing na- Organization for the 21st and international trade. agreed at the end of 2015 ture of global trade and Century: The Asian Per- The seminar also featured and is now awaiting ratifi- remain relevant. The re- spective’, which looked at Dr Razeen Sally, Associ- cation from the member sults of these trade deals the WTO’s role in global ate Professor, LKY states, while the ASEAN and developments could trade, particularly in rela- School of Public Policy Economic Community be key to the Asian re- tion to Asia. The speaker and Dr. Henry Gao, Asso- (AEC) commenced at the gion, as Dr Ganeshan Dr. Ganeshan Wignaraja, ciate Professor, SMU, as beginning of 2016 and the pointed out that many are is an Advisor in the Eco- discussants. Regional Comprehensive reliant on being parts of nomic Research and Re- Economic Partnership larger production net- Dr Ganeshan explained gional Cooperation De- (RCEP) is still being ne- works that span many how 2016 was an im- partment of the Asian De- gotiated with hopes of it countries. ■ portant year for Asia in

Fulbright Scholar Dr Alice D. Ba at RSIS In January 2016, RSIS transitioning regional or- hosted a visiting fellow der. She talked about under the Fulbright Spe- ASEAN’s contributions cialist Program, Dr. Alice and its challenges, and D. Ba, Associate Profes- explored the questions sor of Political Science & raised by Chinese and US International Relations initiatives (China's One from the University of Del- Belt, One Road; the US aware. She presented a "Re-Balance" policies) in Dr Alice Ba presenting a lecture. lecture on the topic of terms what the regional “The Changing Logics of order will look like in rela- grams and seminars, pro- issues such as the Malac- Regional Order? The tions to great power rela- vided consultations with ca Strait safety and secu- United States, China, and tionships, ordering princi- graduate students and rity challenges and Chi- ASEAN in East Asia” on ples, and security drivers. junior researchers about na’s developmental initia- 27 January 2016, which research and professional tives in Southeast Asia. ■ In addition, Dr. Ba contrib- discussed the institutional development, and partici- uted her expertise to dimensions of East Asia's pated in discussions on RSIS-sponsored pro-

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Issue 19 | April 2016

RSIS-NBS Capacity-Building Programme “The ASEAN Advantage: diversity. Building Successful Busi- The 5-day capacity build- ness in ASEAN” pro- ing programme featured gramme was held from 29 thought leaders, business February to 4 March 2016 leaders and policy mak- at the Nanyang Executive ers, including Tan Sri Dr. Centre and Marina Man- Rebecca Fatima Sta Ma- darin Hotel, Singapore. ria, Secretary General of Jointly organised by the S. Ministry of International Rajaratnam School of In- Trade and Industry, Ma- Dean Ravi Kumar presenting a token to Tan Sri Dr. Tony Fernandes. ternational Studies laysia; Tan Sri Dr. Tony (RSIS)’s Centre for Multi- for Research & Develop- ment of the ASEAN Eco- Fernandes, Group Chief lateralism Studies and the ment of Asian Consumer nomic Community in 2015. Executive Officer of Nanyang Business School Insights. Participants also benefited AirAsia; Ambassador Ong (NBS), the programme from on-site visits to com- Keng Yong, Executive The keynote speakers explored the theme of panies and Iskandar Ma- Deputy Chairman of RSIS; shared their expertise and managing businesses in laysia where participants Dr. Siriwan Chutikamol- insights on the opportuni- an increasingly integrated observed and learned, tham, Senior Lecturer of ties and challenges in con- ASEAN, highlighting key first-hand, how businesses NBS; Mr. John Pang, Sen- ducting businesses in the issues on infrastructure, can work with govern- ior Fellow of RSIS; Associ- region presented by the trade deals, human re- ments to tap into the op- ate Professor Nigel Phang adoption of the ASEAN sources, consumerism, portunities arising from of NBS; and Professor Economic Blueprint in investment, and regional economic integration. ■ Gemma Calvert, Director 2007 and the establish-

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS China’s Influence in the rary Security Studies, ed. Stronger Governance Improving Reputation South China Sea and the Alan Collins Chang Jun Yan & Alan BIT by BIT: Bilateral In- Failure of Joint Develop- 1 March 2016 Chong, Today, vestment Treaties and ment 19 February 2016 Foreign Accountability Managing ASEAN’s Ex- Ralf Emmers, Rising Chi- Chia-yi Lee & Noel P. ternal Relations via the Resurgent Terrorism in na’s Influence in Develop- Johnston, International Country Coordinator: Southeast Asia: Impact ing Asia, ed. Evelyn Goh Interactions Lessons Learned from On the Economy 1 March 2016 12 January 2016 Thailand Chia-yi Lee, RSIS Com- The Maritime Dispute in Kaewkamol Pitakdumrong- mentaries Security Competition by the East China Sea kit , RSIS Policy Report 21 January 2016 Proxy: Asia Pacific Inter- Ralf Emmers, Routledge 22 February 2016 state Rivalry in the After- America the Indispensa- Handbook of Naval Strate- math of the MH370 Inci- Resuming the Six-Party ble Power: Singapore’s gy and Security, ed. Joa- dent Talks?: Bleak Prospects Perspective of America chim Krause & Sebastian Alan Chong & Chang Jun Tan Ming Hui, RSIS Com- as a Security Partner Bruns Yan, Global Change, mentaries Tan See Seng, Asian Poli- 1 March 2016 Peace & Security 22 February 2016 tics & Policy 01 January 2016 Securitization 16 January 2016 Global Aviation Needs Ralf Emmers, Contempo-

The Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS) is a research entity within the S. Rajaratnam School of Interna- tional Studies at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. The CMS team conducts cutting-edge research, teaching/training and networking on cooperative multilateralism in the Asia Pacific region. The Centre aims to con- tribute to international academic and public discourses on regional architecture and order in the Asia Pacific. It aspires to be an international knowledge hub for multilateral cooperation and regional integration.

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