ASEAN Economic Community 2015 and its impact on the Security Architecture of South East Asia

With the end-2015 deadline for establishing a border-free ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) drawing closer, Friends of Europe’s debate on 4 November, co-organised with Hanns Seidel Foundation, reviewed achievements made to date and future steps in the process. “We need a strong, cohesive and self-confident ASEAN,” said Steven Everts of the European External Action Service. Joined by Rafael M. Alunan III, Chair of the National Security Committee of the Management Association of the Philippines, and Adrianus Meliala, Indonesian National Police Commissioner, and moderated by Shada Islam, Director of Policy at Friends of Europe, discussion explored the work that still lies ahead, especially in the drive to create an ASEAN political and security community. Alunan III admitted that progress on the AEC was faster than on political and security cooperation among ASEAN members, underlining: “there have been few solid achievements so far”. Ever-present rivalries in the South China Sea can lead to major steps forward in ASEAN security cooperation but only if ASEAN leaders stick together, invest in unity and bring the people along, said Everts, noting the similarity of these challenges to those of the EU. Meliala highlighted the new security challenges facing ASEAN across borders including terrorism, smuggling, human trafficking and internet hacking. Different mind-sets and cultural attitudes remain, but ASEAN is moving forward to meet its goals.