What progress has there been in advancing cooperation in non-traditional security in Southeast Asia? This East Asian Strategic Review paper examines recent political and military developments in the region. It finds that while the military junta still prevails in Myanmar, it has recently accepted international aid. The area’s regional forum, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is broadening its focus. However, terrorism remains a substantial threat within the region.
There has been little progress in restricting the grip of the military on Mynamar’s political system. International criticism of Myanmar’s violent suppression of street demonstrations in September 2007 has not deterred the junta from adopting a new constitution. This ensures the military’s right to participate in politics and keeps Aung Sang Suu Kyi under house arrest. However, the government has accepted humanitarian aid from Europe and the United States despite its initial refusal following cyclone Nargis. This was largely the result of international appeals by ASEAN and the United Nations.
In Malaysia and Thailand, the focus of international attention was on domestic political change.
- Many believed that the long-standing National Front government, upon which Malaysian politics has been based, might be entering a period of transition. However, with the early resignation of the prime minister, the situation now seems to have stabilised.
- Thailand, on the other hand, while continuing to witness frequent changes in its prime minister due to domestic political turmoil, became involved in a military clash with Cambodia over territorial claims to a temple at the border.
- Ratification by member nations of the ASEAN Charter of 2007 proceeded smoothly, and the charter took effect at the end of 2008. Hereafter ASEAN will face the task of forming an effective “ASEAN community” based on the adopted charter, including the establishment of a human rights body.
- In its external relations, ASEAN in 2008 sought to develop its relationships with the United States, China, India and Japan while simultaneously taking steps to strengthen its independent ties with North Korea.
Military developments in the region are taking place in the context of continued terrorism, which continues to be a major concern.
- Although things seemed to calm down slightly in Indonesia and Thailand, peace negotiations in the Philippines between the government and extremists failed and resulted in the resumption of the fight between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and extremist groups.
- Although defence budgets are now on the rise throughout Southeast Asia, these increases are all backed by healthy economic development. Along with increases in defence budgets, nations are actively modernising their arms and equipment.
- In military cooperation, there was a deepening of the cooperative relationship between Indonesia and China. In November 2007, Minister of Defence Juwono Sudarsono visited China and signed an agreement on military cooperation.
