Basic overview of ASEAN (Objectives and Policies)

ASEAN

http://www.nti.org/treaties-and-regimes/association-southeast-asian-nations-asean/
http://aseanregionalforum.asean.org/about.html
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060626170009AAfiyHv

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

ASEAN MEMBERS (TRUE JANUARY 2013).

Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia
Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

Observer: Papua New Guinea

OBJECTIVES.

Help each other progress economically, socially, and culturally.
Keep regional peace and security.

RULES AND
POLICIES.

Respect each other’s independence, territory, sovereignty, equality, and national identity.
Respect every state’s right to lead its own national existence without external interference, *subversion, or *coercion.

*Subversion is undermining someone’s authority.
*Coercion is to force someone to do something because of your authority.

Non-interference of internal affairs of one another.
Settlement of disputes in a PEACEFUL matter.
Rejection of threats and use of force.
Effective cooperation.

BENEFITS.

Nuclear arms agreements to stop nuclear proliferation (getting too much nuclear weapons is dangerous).
Socioeconomic AID and reform.
Cooperation in banking, trade, technologies, industries, etc..
Regional common markets*.

Common market = A group of countries imposing few or no duties on trade with one another and a common tariff on trade with other countries.

Tariff phase-off (no tariffs).

*Tariff = tax on imports and exports.

ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM.

MEMBERS.

All ASEAN Members +
Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Russia, East Timor, and the United States

OBJECTIVE

Talk about political and security issues of common interest.
Confidence-building and preventing disputes in the Asia-Pacific region.