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QUESTIONS
1. As an expert on Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries, what is your
assessment of RELATIONS among the members of ASEAN?
ANSWER: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises ten of
the eleven countries in Southeast Asia. They differ in levels of development, in
the nature of their political systems and in their external relations. The original
five founding members of ASEAN – Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and
the Philippines – are particularly close because they have been working together
since e1967 when ASEAN was founded. But ASEAN has promoted regionalism
and a regional identity. There are over 300 major meetings by ministers and
senior officials each year. ASEAN has developed habits of inclusiveness,
consultation and decision making by consensus. Since 2008 ASEAN has adopted a
Charter and set out a vision of creating an ASEAN Community by 2015.
Nonetheless there irritants that disrupt harmony among ASEAN members:
Thailand and Cambodia dispute land surrounding Preah Vihear temple and
Malaysia and Indonesia dispute maritime boundaries around Ambalat islands, for
example. ASEAn is also being linked by growing people‐to‐people ties through
labour migration and tourism.
2. The ASEAN community is growing faster and faster. However, everything has
two sides; so, besides the advantages, what are the disadvantages in building
ASEAN community as well as cementing ASEAN membership?
ANSWER: The ASEAN Community concept embraces principles that are in tension
with one another. On the one hand ASEAN promotes democracy, human rights
and good governance. On the other hand, ASEAN upholds national sovereignty
and non‐interference in the internal affairs. Because ASEAN works by consensus
and at a pace comfortable to all” its decision making process is very slow. ASEAN
had not been able to enforce compliance with its decisions. ASEAN has adopted a
Dispute Settlement Mechanism but has not yet worked out the details of how it
will operate. ASEAN tends to sweep contentious issues under the carpet or leave
them until a later date for settlement. For example, some ASEAN nations were
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badly affected by forest fires and pollution coming from Indonesia in 1997‐98
and in later years. Despite attempts to agree on an ASEAN‐wide treaty, Indonesia
has kept out of the process. When forest fires burn in Indonesia its neighbours
suffer from pollution which affects both public health and tourism.
3. ASEAN is on its way to fulfilling itself, but the bloc still lacks a common voice
in addressing disputed issues the like South China Sea. Could you offer us
your assessment? What policy recommendations would you make to
Vietnam?
ANSWER: ASEAN members and China did reach consensus on a Declaration of
Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in 2002. The DOC sets out many
areas of confidence building activities. Yet none has been achieved. So the first
step is for ASEAN members who claim territory in the South China Sea to
undertake these confidence building measures among themselves. Next, where
ASEAN members have conflicting claims among themselves, they should
negotiate a peaceful settlement by bringing each national position into accord
with international law. Cooperation between Malaysia and Vietnam, and their
joint submission to the UN Commission on Extended Continental Shelf should
serve as a model.
Only four ASEAN countries have claims to the South China Sea. This put them
into potential conflict with China. The four core states – Vietnam, the Philippines,
Malaysia and Brunei – need to work out a common front and gain the
endorsement of the other ASEAN members. They should present China with a
united front to implement the DOC and after confidence in build, to develop a
proper Code of Conduct.
4. Vietnam is attracting more and more attention from the great powers such as
the U.S., Russia, Japan, etc. Why is the international community paying
attention to Vietnam, and what is a wise calculation for Vietnam to reconcile
these powerful forces?
ANSWER: Vietnam is the thirteenth largest country in the in terms of population. It
has been developing its economy and will become a middle income country that is
industrial and modernized by 2020. Vietnam has also acquitted itself well on the
world diplomatic stage, not only as ASEAN Chair but as a non‐permanent member of
the UN Security Council. Vietnam is emerging as an important strategic player in
Southeast Asia. This fact is recognized by the major powers who want to benefit
from trade relations and mutual political support. Trade with the United States
nearly balances Vietnam’s huge trade deficit with China. US investment topped the
list last year. Both countries cooperate on political issues and recently both have
stepped up defence cooperation.
5. ASEAN has gained the confidence of the international community; so can the
bloc currently be seen as the prosperous EU?
ANSWER: No, the European Union is a customs union and ASEAN is not. The EU is
also an association of states that have pooled their sovereignty and delegated
powers to regional institutions such as the European Parliament and European
Commission. Giving up national sovereignty to a regional institution in Southeast
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Asia is unheard of at the moment. Each country jealously guards national
sovereignty. EU countries share the same legal and political systems, Southeast Asia
does not. European citizens can freely travel across the European Union and are
protected by the same laws.
6. In the ASEAN community, many benefits are shared through cooperation,
such as economic cooperation. At the same time there are conflicts over
sovereignty, such as the current tension between Thailand and Cambodia
over Preah Vihear Temple and the conflict on Thai‐Cambodia border, etc.
How can ASEAN overcome those challenges to become a sustainable bloc?
ANSWER: ASEAN could be more effective in addressing conflicts among its members
if the ASEAN Secretary General were permitted to play a more proactive role and if
ASEAN itself agreed to practice preventive diplomacy. ASEAN needs to develop a
culture when a conflict arises both parties are willing to accept ASEAN mediation.
The ASEAN Secretary General and ASEAN Chair should be given the authority to act
in a timely matter to address emerging tensions and conflict.
7. What is the role of Vietnam in building the ASEAN community? In the near
future, is it possible that ASEAN will be led by Vietnam?
ANSWER: Vietnam is one of ten members of ASEAN. It can advance the idea of an
ASEAN Community by expeditiously adopting and implementing the three blueprints
and plans of action for an ASEAN Security Community, an ASEAN Economic
Community and an ASEAN Socio‐Cultural Community. These are the three pillars of
the ASEAN Community. Vietnam has contributed a great deal as ASEAN Chair in 2010
to advance the ASEAN Community concept. It should give full support to Indonesia in
2011 when it becomes the ASEAN Chair. Vietnam can only lead ASEAN when it is in
the chair. Indonesia because of its size will always be the “first among equals.”
Vietnam, however, is among the four key players in ASEAN: Indonesia, Malaysia,
Singapore and Vietnam.
8. The 17th ASEAN Summit will be held with the participation of the US
Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton and the Secretary General of the United
Nations, Ban Ki‐moon, senior officials that lots of leaders over the world rely
on and respect. How can Vietnam raise ASEAN’s position in the international
arena through such leaders?
ANSWER: The ground work has already been laid through consultations and the
work of senior officials. When ASEAN leaders meet in Hanoi most of their agenda will
have been decided. The ASEAN Summit will review and make recommendations on
the next steps towards an ASEAN Community. ASEAN leaders will meet separately
with China (ASEAN Plus 1). This is the venue where Vietnam needs to take leadership
in presenting a united front to China on the South China Sea. Vietnam can turn the
17th ASEAN and related summits into a success by consulting widely, reach a
consensus on key issue and by being pragmatic in implementing the results. The real
task ahead is to define the purpose of the East Asian Summit and how it will develop
next year when Russia and the United States join. Vietnam performs best when it
does not take sides but brings conflicting sides together.
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9. What is your evaluation of Vietnam’s role in the region and what are the
strong points of Vietnam’s external policy so far?
ANSWER: When Vietnam joined ASEAN it sat on the substitute bench and watched
the more experienced players. Gradually Vietnam has been called upon to play in the
main game. Vietnam is now a regular starting player. Why? Vietnam has developed
its diplomatic corps to the highest level by investment in identifying persons of talent
and giving them an appropriate mix of training and experience. This cadre has served
Vietnam very well. Secondly, Vietnam has adopted broad principles in the conduct of
its foreign policy that have served it well. Vietnam embraces the norms of “the
ASEAN Way” and Vietnam has refrained from aligning itself with one major power
against the other. Third, Vietnam has not interfered in the internal affairs of other
ASEAN states and has won support for its independent stance. It should be recalled
that Vietnam was the unanimous choice of the Asia bloc at the United Nations as its
nominee for non‐permanent membership on the Security Council. Finally, Vietnam’s
economic success and domestic stability are strong points. Countries can rely on
Vietnam to deliver in contrast to crisis torn Thailand. Vietnam has lived up to its
slogan of “being a trustworthy and reliable partner” to all.