ASEAN and regional multilateralism

One of the most significant recent events in the field of multilateral diplomacy, insufficiently publicized by the mainstream media, was the Thirty-First Meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) which was held in Vientiane, Lao PDR, on 27 July 2024. The Meeting was attended by the Foreign Ministers and Representatives of all 27 ARF Participants, as well as the Secretary-General of ASEAN.

But what is ARF and who are the participating states? The ARF is not a conventional international organization, but a forum who provides a setting for discussion, multilateral diplomacy and for the development of cooperative responses to regional problems.

The inaugural ARF meeting was held in July 1994 in Bangkok, Thailand, and its current participants are as follows: Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, European Union, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United States, and Viet Nam.

ASEAN itself defined the ARF as "an effective consultative Asia-Pacific Forum for promoting open dialogue on political and security cooperation in the region. In this context, ASEAN should work with its ARF partners to bring about a more predictable and constructive pattern of relations in the Asia Pacific."

For the period of January – December 2024, the Chairman of the ARF is His ExcellencySaleumxay Kommasith,Deputy Prime Minister,Minister of Foreign Affairs,Lao PDR.

The Chairman's statement of the thirty-First Meeting of the ARF is a complex 11 pages diplomatic document covering 38 paragraphs. According to the existing practice, this is a carefully drafted text prepared in advance of the meeting by professional diplomats.

In our article we will focus only on some selective major issues reflected in this comprehensive document and representing opinions shared by 27 participating states attending the ARF Meeting. We will respect the original terminology of this instrument.Technical aspects of the text are reserved for possible future elaborations.

Cardinal topics

From the very beginning, the Meeting noted that security challenges are becoming more inter-connected and increasingly complex, thus requiring greater coordination and concerted efforts. In this respect, the Meeting encouraged all ARF Participants to exert greater efforts in advancing the ARF process to promote its effectiveness and relevance in the evolving regional architecture.

Sensitive to international realities, the Meeting reaffirmed ASEAN Unity and Centrality as the driving force in maintaining and promoting regional peace, security, stability, and prosperity, as well as the commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes without resorting to the threat or use of force, in accordance with the universally recognised principles of international law. The Meeting stressed the need to maintain constructive dialogue and cooperation among ARF Participants on political and security issues of common interest and concern to address and reduce threats to regional peace and security.

The Meeting commended the region's continued commitment in dealing with the complex challenges posed by terrorism, violent extremism conducive to terrorism , and transnational organised crime, including through cross sectoral and cross-pillar cooperation in border management and combating terrorism, trafficking in persons, and illicit drugs.

In addition, the Meeting exchanged views on various challenges relating to maritime domain, and shared concern over piracy, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, the degradation of marine eco system and biodiversity caused by the high and rapidly increasing levels of marine debris and marine pollution.

In the same context, the Meeting noted the need to further strengthen cooperation on disaster management, particularly in areas of early warning and preparedness, taking into account the region's vulnerability to natural disasters, climate change and rising sea levels.

In a special paragraph ,the Meeting noted the concerns raised by some participants over the declining commitment and cooperation in global non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament mechanisms, and called on countries, especially Nuclear Weapon States , to maintain and fully implement their commitments under these mechanisms.

On the same issue, the Meeting called on the Nuclear Weapon States to fulfil their obligations in advancing nuclear disarmament in accordance with Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and to recognise the need to completely eliminate nuclear weapons, which remains the only way to guarantee that nuclear weapons are never used again under any circumstances. The Meeting reiterated the commitment to preserving the Southeast Asian region as a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone and free of all other weapons of mass destruction as enshrined in the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone and stressed the importance of the full and effective implementation of this Treaty.

An important issue discussed by the Meeting was related to the situation in the South China Sea.Concerns were expressed by some Ministers, on the land reclamations, activities in the area, including actions that put the safety of all persons at risk, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions, and may undermine peace, security, and stability in the region. The Meeting reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability, and avoid actions that may further complicate the situation.

The Meeting reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety, and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea and recognised the benefits of having the South China Sea as a sea of peace, stability, and prosperity.

As expected,the Meeting discussed the developments in Myanmar during which deep concerns were expressed over the escalation of conflicts and humanitarian situation. The Meeting reaffirmed support for the ASEAN Leaders' Five-Point Consensus which remains the main reference to address the political crisis in Myanmar.

The Meeting expressed concern over the recent developments in the Korean Peninsula and stressed the importance of continued peaceful dialogue among all concerned parties in order to realise lasting peace and stability in a denuclearised Korean Peninsula.

With regard to Ukraine, as for all nations, the Meeting continued to reaffirm the respect for sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity. The Meeting reiterated the call for compliance with the UN Charter and international law. The Meeting underlined the importance of reaching a just and lasting peace based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter in all their entirety and an immediate cessation of hostilities and the creation of enabling environment for peaceful resolution.

The Meeting expressed grave concern over the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, which has been exacerbated following the 7 October attacks.

The Meeting expressed great concern over the escalation of tension in the Middle East and called on all parties concerned to exercise self-restraint, avoid acts that may aggravate the situation, and resolve differences through diplomacy and dialogue in the interest of maintaining peace and stability in the region.

Conclusion

In the final part of the document under review, it was reminded that in view of strengthening efforts to revitalise the ARF and further to the discussion at the 30th ARF's discussion in 2023 on the future direction of the ARF, the Meeting was informed that ASEAN, as the primary driving force of the ARF, is currently conducting a comprehensive review of the ARF process, including assessing the roles, acheivements and challenges of the ARF.

In the last paragraph of the document, the Meeting reaffirmed the commitment to maintain the ARF as an effective and relevant forum for constructive political security dialogue, consultation and cooperation in the region on political and security issues of common interest and concern, and reiterated their support for ASEAN unity and Centrality in this process. The Meeting further reiterated the commitment to exert greater efforts in advancing the ARF process forward, whilst underlining the need to continue moving at a pace comfortable to all and on the basis of consensus, with ASEAN as the primary driving force.

It can be asserted that the ARF proves to be an unique entity in the field of regional and inter-regional diplomacy while having a minimal institutionalization, but being able to make efforts to promote multilateralism during a difficult historical era characterized by global vulnerabilities, perplexities and discontinuities.