Defining Southeast Asia's Defense Posture Amidst Challenging Times
Abstract
This paper explores the Southeast Asian security landscape since the end of the Second World War. It will focus on two collective frameworks that have emerged from the cooperative efforts of the countries in the region to deal with the flux of security issues. These are the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). They constitute the central reference mechanisms in defining the region's security posture. The paper will next examine how the "non-interference" policy has become an inadequate principle for ASEAN and ARF as the region progresses into the 21st century. Its inadequacy is explored in relation to three "unconventional shocks": the 1997 financial crisis, the 1999 East Timor hostility crisis, and the 2002 Bali terrorist bombings. It also will examine how the notion of a "pre-emptive" U.S. foreign policy creates an increasing sense of uncertainty about the region's future security relationship with the United States, especially when Al Qaeda-linked terrorists are attempting to establish their footholds within the region. Today, as Southeast Asia stands at the threshold of the 21st century, there is an increasing need to transform the ARF fundamentally to continue to project a strong security posture amidst such challenging times. A new vision for the ARF is proposed in response to the new challenges. The vision calls for a bold "three-pronged" transformation to take place at three distinct levels of the ARF: Principle, Process, and Perspective. The final part of the paper will examine the details of this transformation roadmap that promises to revamp the region's security posture.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA476305
Entities
People
- Pak-chuen Chin
Organizations
- Air Command and Staff College