We, The Peoples
ASEAN launched the ASEAN Charter today. Apparently it was signed last year, so I've clearly been out of the loop for a while.
I remember being asked not too long ago whether I thought ASEAN would ever develop into a political and economic entity like the EU, an outcome I was very sceptical of. So I was slightly surprised when I read about the ASEAN Charter, which serves to confer legal personality on the Association.
On further inspection, however, it's pretty clear that the Charter does not accomplish very much, and it most definitely is nothing like the European Treaties. You can see the (very ugly) Charter here.
Article 2 sets out the principles of ASEAN, which, while containing some laudatory statements on compliance with human rights and international law, contains at least three separate references to non-interference in Member States' internal affairs and sovereignty.
Article 14 postpones any substantive decision on an ASEAN human rights body, despite the principle of "respect for fundamental freedoms...and protection of human rights".
Article 20 establishes "consultation and consensus" as the primary decision-making process, in keeping with the general theme of amity and cooperation.
The ASEAN motto is "One Vision, One Identity and One Community", which is somewhat optimistic.
I'm quite curious to see what substantive changes the ASEAN Charter will introduce, as there is an underlying and irreconcilable tension between the drive to greater economic integration, social cohesion and security cooperation on the one hand, and non-interference, sovereignty and consensus on the other.
One thing that's clear, however, is that ASEAN certainly will not become an Asian Union, or even an Asian Community, in the sense of the EU, in the near future.
ASEAN launched the ASEAN Charter today. Apparently it was signed last year, so I've clearly been out of the loop for a while.
I remember being asked not too long ago whether I thought ASEAN would ever develop into a political and economic entity like the EU, an outcome I was very sceptical of. So I was slightly surprised when I read about the ASEAN Charter, which serves to confer legal personality on the Association.
On further inspection, however, it's pretty clear that the Charter does not accomplish very much, and it most definitely is nothing like the European Treaties. You can see the (very ugly) Charter here.
Article 2 sets out the principles of ASEAN, which, while containing some laudatory statements on compliance with human rights and international law, contains at least three separate references to non-interference in Member States' internal affairs and sovereignty.
Article 14 postpones any substantive decision on an ASEAN human rights body, despite the principle of "respect for fundamental freedoms...and protection of human rights".
Article 20 establishes "consultation and consensus" as the primary decision-making process, in keeping with the general theme of amity and cooperation.
The ASEAN motto is "One Vision, One Identity and One Community", which is somewhat optimistic.
I'm quite curious to see what substantive changes the ASEAN Charter will introduce, as there is an underlying and irreconcilable tension between the drive to greater economic integration, social cohesion and security cooperation on the one hand, and non-interference, sovereignty and consensus on the other.
One thing that's clear, however, is that ASEAN certainly will not become an Asian Union, or even an Asian Community, in the sense of the EU, in the near future.
<< Home