ASEAN

ASEAN is an international organization that collaborates with neighboring countries to improve their economic, political, and security issues. The members of the ASEAN organization include Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines being the first countries to unite to form ASEAN on 8 August 1967, and Vietnam is the last country to join. The headquarters of the ASEAN organization is located in Jakarta, Indonesia. The most significant success that the ASEAN organization members have achieved is the economic integration among them. It also aids in negotiating the RCEP agreement, which helps create the world's most extensive free trade. 

The countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand joined hands to form a common front against the spread of communism and strengthen economic, political, and social stability and growing tensions in the Asia-Pacific in 1967. The member nations became a signatory to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia in 1976, emphasizing non-interference in other countries affairs and respecting mutual decisions. The end of the Cold War, the resolution of Cambodia's civil war in 1991, and the cordial relationship between Vietnam and the United States in 1995 brought more states to join ASEAN. There was more regionalism with countries like Brunei (1984), Vietnam (1995), Laos and Myanmar (1997), and Cambodia (1999). The members of ASEAN signed a treaty in 1995 to refrain from acquiring, possessing, or developing nuclear weapons. 

The financial crisis in Thailand in 1997 pushed the ASEAN members to integrate their economies. The Chiang Mai Initiative was a currency arrangement introduced between China, Japan, and South Korea, and the ASEAN Members gave financial support to each other and overcame currency speculations. Further, in 2007, the ten members of ASEAN signed up ASEAN Charter, a constitutional document that gave them an institutional framework. This Charter focuses on core principles and outlines requirements for membership in 2011. This Charter explains the blueprint for a community that comprises three sectors: the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), the ASEAN Political-Security Community, and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.

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List of Members of ASEAN organization 

How ASEAN Works

ASEAN is run by a chair—a position that rotates among member states annually —and is supported by a secretariat based in its headquarter, Jakarta, Indonesia. Critical decisions are made through mutual consultation and consensus determined by non-interference in internal affairs and peaceful resolution of conflicts. However, this approach is regarded as the major drawback for the organization. Some experts believe that this approach has become outdated and limits ASEAN's influence on different issues dealing with China and the crisis. In particular, ASEAN states," The other perspective is that ASEAN has helped develop regional stability by stimulating a neutral environment to address common challenges. It is believed that good communication and relationship building is half the solution to the problem. 

Success of ASEAN 

ASEAN has helped in significant development towards economic integration and free trade. Members have allowed an ASEAN Free Trade Area to build a single market, increase intra-ASEAN trade and investments, and attract foreign investment. Intra-ASEAN trade as a share also increased from 19% to 23%.

Almost 90 % of goods are involved in trade without tariff. The bloc has promoted eleven economic integration sectors: automotive, rubber-based products, electronics, apparel and textiles, tourism, and agriculture-based products. However, some parts have significant industries that are not covered by trade measures and discrepancies in income among many members, making economic integration challenges. 

A free trade agreement known as Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has been negotiated since 2012, finally signed in November 2020 by ASEAN Members and China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea. RCEP covers more than 30% percent of the world's population. It will also help boost economic integration between Northeast and Southeast Asia.

ASEAN And India  

ASEAN is an organization of South-East Asian Nations South-Asia and India is a part of South-Asia, due to which India couldn't be a part of ASEAN. However, India's relationship with members of the ASEAN organization has improved since the ASEAN's beginning.

India has been a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN since 1992. During the 5th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in 1995, ASEAN had invited India to become a full dialogue partner due to mutual interest. In 1996, India became part of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). Since 2002, India has been holding a summit-level annual meeting ASEAN. India also signed a Free Trade Agreement(FTA)in Thailand in August 2009 with ASEAN members. Under which India and ASEAN Members will lift import tariffs on more than 80% of traded products between 2013 to 2016. From the list of the countries of ASEAN organizations, three countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, accepted FTA, and the rest of the countries are expected to accept FTA by August 2010. 

Some Interesting Facts About the ASEAN Nations

Some of the interesting facts about the list of countries of ASEAN organization are mentioned below- 

1. According to the data given by the International Monetary Fund in April 2017, Singapore has the most excellent Per Capita Income among all the members of ASEAN organizations. 

2. Among the list of members of the ASEAN organization, Indonesia is the fourth highest populous country globally, with a population of 266,794,980. 

3. According to the data given by the International Monetary Fund in April 2017, Cambodia has the lowest Per Capita Income(US$4022) among all the members of ASEAN organizations. 

4. According to the data given by the International Monetary Fund in April 2017, Indonesia has the highest GDR (US$ 32,57,123) among all the members of ASEAN organizations. 

5. Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore are the founding members of the ASEAN. The rest of the five members join this organization later on.

6. There is a drastic shift in the trade relations between India and other ASEAN Nations. The two-way trade between India and ASEAN was  65.1 billion dollars in 2015-2016 and further increased to  71.6 billion dollars in 2016-2017.

7. ASEAN is an exceptionally culturally diverse market because each member belongs to a different cultural background. For example, Indonesia comprises people belonging to Islamic, the Philippines comprises people from Catholicism, and Thailand consists of Buddhists.