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HIROSHIMA RESEARCH NEWS Hiroshima Peace Institute Vol.10 No.3 March 2008 The Historical Significance of the ASEAN Charter ──The Challenge for Japan By Kimio Kawahara 1. ASEAN’s 40th Anniversary two articles concerns respect for the right to be free from interference, It is 40 years since the establishment of the Association of Southeast subversion and coercion from external parties, and the second concerns Asian Nations (ASEAN). There is a Confucian saying, “I wavered not at age restraint from policies and involvement in action that undermines the 40,” indicating a certain level of maturity attained. On November 20, 2007, sovereignty, territorial integrity as well as political and economic stability of in commemoration of its 40th anniversary, ASEAN held a summit at which member states, including the use of territory. Using the key word ASEAN, all heads of member states signed the historic “ASEAN Charter.” ASEAN this may be regarded as a process of generating political resilience. was formed in 1967, shortly after the United States began its bombing In this way, ASEAN is strengthening economic power and improving campaign in North Vietnam in an act of intervention in the Vietnamese Civil regional resilience, and to maintain these it is attempting to equip itself with War. Since its inception, ASEAN has never once resorted to military force political resilience by means of the ASEAN Charter. What then is the third when a conflict has arisen between its members. It has always succeeded in new pillar of the charter? Since its formation, the focus of ASEAN’s resolving problems through peaceful talks. This fact, when faced with the resilience has been on the nation and the region as a whole. The ASEAN frequent outbreaks of regional conflict and civil strife in many areas around Charter places a new emphasis on the strengthening of people’s resilience. the world in the post-Cold War era－not to mention the wars in Afghanistan The respective objectives of the ASEAN Charter are: to achieve a high and in Iraq after 9/11－this “warless” ASEAN Charter has historic quality of life for the people of its member states, to develop human significance in itself as it stands as a testimony to the achievement of 40 resources to empower the people, to enhance the well-being and livelihood years of non-recourse to force among ASEAN members. of the people by providing them with equitable access to opportunities, and What is more, the articles of the ASEAN Charter, which lay down to promote a people-oriented ASEAN in which all sectors of society are future courses of action for member states and peoples, reach out beyond the encouraged to participate in, and benefit from, the process of ASEAN bounds of ASEAN’s peace pact and involve the East Asian Community integration and community building. members and the countries of Eurasia. On three salient points, the ASEAN After World War II, the nations of Southeast Asia emerged from Charter goes well beyond the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast colonial rule and a long history of oppression by powerful nations set out to Asia (TAC) signed in 1976 following the fall of Saigon. strengthen regional resilience, which would allow them to stand their ground against the superpowers, through the formation of ASEAN. Now having 2. The ASEAN Charter: Three Salient Points achieved this 40 year milestone, ASEAN has declared its intention to ensure The first point of difference is that ASEAN was originally formed with its people’s resilience. Herein lies the greatest historical significance of the the intention of strengthening economic ties, in accordance with members’ ASEAN Charter: to achieve the charter’s most important thrust, ASEAN’s desires to be no longer at the mercy of the superpowers. United under this goal is to establish regional autonomy without resorting to force. aim were nations with diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds. At the time, the key word was resilience. TAC espoused the strengthening and promotion 3. The U.S. “Smart Power” Strategy and Beyond of national and regional resilience. As ASEAN membership grew to 10 Meanwhile, the United States of America has been caught up in the countries and regional coordination expanded to ASEAN+3 and Asia- quagmire of the war against terror for six years since the attacks of 9/11. On Europe Meeting (ASEM), member states reinforced their own economic November 6 last year, almost coinciding with the signing of the ASEAN resilience. Thus in drawing up the ASEAN Charter, the focus was on Charter, the study THE CSIS COMMISSION ON SMART POWER: A bolstering regional resilience. The emphasis made in articles relating to its smarter, more secure America was published. This was a non-partisan report purposes and external relations is on relationships and cooperation with prepared mainly by Joseph Nye and Richard Armitage who are also well- partners outside the region, and on the upholding of ASEAN’s centrality and known in Japan. Reputed to have a strong bearing on the diplomatic and leadership role as the key proponent in intra-regional coordination. defense policies of the future American president, it manifests a grave sense The second point of note is that ASEAN inserted two additional articles of crisis, stating that overdependence on military might during the past six into the charter that are not spelled out in existing international laws or TAC. years has led to loss of confidence in the U.S., even among its old allies. These are intended to ensure that member states are not thrown into America has the ability to wield both “hard power” and “soft power.” The confusion by the designs and interests of the superpowers. In the wake of former is typified by military force. The latter is exemplified not merely by 9/11, the pursuit of sole supremacy and trans-boundary preemptive strikes cultural assets such as Hollywood movies and American goods but also by have come to hold sway in the international arena. Thus it has become political values, the ideas enshrined in the American Constitution and the necessary to include the following precepts in addition to the principles that Bill of Rights, economic and educational systems, active participation in had been hitherto adhered to: those of non-interference in the internal affairs international institutions, the exercise of sovereignty, and above all the of other member states; respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, success of America itself as a nation. However, the report advocates the need territorial integrity and national identity of all nations; and the renunciation for creating “smart power” that integrates both hard and soft power. No of invasion, threats and intimidation using military force. The first of these matter who will get to sit in the Oval Office following the next presidential election, the study stresses that hope and optimism should be encouraged, and not fear and anger. It identifies five areas of focus: the revitalization of CONTENTS alliances and partnerships as well as institutions; promotion of global economic growth; diplomacy conducted on a long-term basis; economic The Historical Significance of the ASEAN Charter by Kimio Kawahara… 1 integration that includes the disengaged, both nationally and internationally; <Reflections from Hiroshima: The 7th in a Series> and technologies and innovations that address issues of energy and climate The Other Hiroshima Council of A-Bomb Sufferers Organizations change. by Kazushi Kaneko…………………………………………………… 2～3 There is a force at work in this thinking which is in common with that of <HPI Research Forum> the ASEAN Charter. America is considering moving away from dependence When Might Does Not Make Right by Lennox Hinds…………………… 3 on military solutions to effect a major policy change. Yet the report’s <HPI Research Project> greatest concern is that the most important component, the country’s soft Engagement with North Korea…………………………………………… 4 power resources, is beyond the reach of the government and is held HPI’s Lecture Series for Citizens of Hiroshima…………………………… 5 collectively by the private sector, civil society, bilateral alliances and non- The Origins of the Dirty Bomb by Robert Jacobs…………………………… 6 U.S. international organizations. This may well result in significant problems <HPI Research Forums> when trying to coordinate these resources. The new elements of the ASEAN Charter should be praised for their historical foresight in proposing a Is Australia Part of the Problem or Part of the Solution to Abolishing framework which is seeking to assist the strengthening of regional stability Nuclear Weapons? by Tilman Ruff………………………………………… 7 with such problems in mind. In this context it is important to consider what Cold War Art and the Bomb in the Exhibition, political action Japan should take. This is a major challenge facing Japan. The Family of Man by John O’Brian……………………………………… 7 Diary………………………………………………………………………… 8 Kawahara is president at Nagasaki Peace Institute － 1 － HIROSHIMA RESEARCH NEWS, Vol.10 No.3 March 2008 Visit HPI’s website at http://serv.peace.hiroshima-cu.ac.jp/English/index.htm ＜Reflections from Hiroshima: The 7th in a Series＞ Kazushi Kaneko, Director General, Hiroshima Council of A-Bomb Sufferers Organizations The Other Hiroshima Council of A-Bomb Sufferers Organizations Interview and editing by Motofumi Asai (Interviewed on December 11, 2007) 1. A-Bomb Experience dead bodies, pour kerosene over them and I passed the entrance exam to the school of maritime technology then cremate them. This seemed a terrible in 1941. Although the school normally offered a six-year course, it way to cremate people. Besides, it made me was shortened as the war intensified. Therefore when Japan was wonder how one could distinguish the defeated in the war, I had already graduated from school and begun bones from one another if the dead bodies working for a shipbuilding company.

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