Southeast Asia: Politics, Economy and International Relations (2007 – 2015)

Abstract

Southeast Asia consists of two geographical regions : the mainland the maritime section. The mainland section consists of Combodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. The population of which are primarily Tai peoples and Austro-Asiatic peoples and the dominant religion is Buddhism, followed by Christianity. The maritime section consists of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore. Due to the diversity of the region and complexity of politics and societies in each of 10 countries, it is very interesting study how these countries cope with the problems after the economic in 1997.

            This research will examines the following factors :

            1) The external and domestic factors affect the economy, politics and international relations of each country.

            2) The leaders of each country play an important role in the road map of national policy leading to development.

            3) The success and obstacles in politics, economy and international relations depend on the external and domestic factors.

            The researchers found out that the economic crisis triggered by several factors, chief among them is overvalued currencies caused by the huge influx of foreign direct investment and foreign capital from outside the region which considered as the external factors gave effect to the massive corporate and private debts in Thailand along with the contagion effect of investor panic led to the collapse of Thai economy in 1997.The collapse of Thai economy which in the domestic factors spilled over and gave effect to the other Southeast Asian and East Asian Countries. Indonesia, South Korea were the Countries most affected by the crisis. Hong Kong Malaysia, Laos and the Philippines were also fairly hurt by the slump.

            Mainland China, India, Taiwan, Brunei and Vietnam were less affected. Japan was not much affected by the crisis but was going through its own long-term economic difficulties The economic crisis of some countries in Southeast Asia also led to political upheaval, most notably culminating in the resignations of President Suharto in Indonesia and Prime Minister General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh in Thailand. There was general rise in anti-Western sentiment, with George Soros and IMF in particular signed out as targets of criticism Heavy U.S. investment in Thailand ended, replaced by mostly European investment through Japanese investment was sustained. Islamic and other separatist movements intensified in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand as central authorities weakened until the year of 2006 although the economic situation was recovered. Mahathir of Malaysia and Arroyo of the Philippines suggested that ASEAN’s responsibility is to uphold its commitment to free markets and ensure that policies of sustainable development should be concentrated. Due to the economic crisis and political situation of each country, the leaders of all Southeast Asian Countries have developed the omni-direction foreign policies both bilateral and multilateral within the region and between the regions, such as between two members of ASEAN, sub-regional of ASEAN (GMA, MIMP-EAGA, SIJORI) ASEAN and EU, ASEAN and Middle East, etc. By the year of 2006 the members of ASEAN seemed successful in economy, political stability and international relations. Moreover, in 2005, at the 11^th ASEAN Summit in Kuala lumpur, a ten-member Eminent Persons Group (EPG) was appointed to examine and provide recommendations on the ASEAN Charter. At the 12^th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines on 13 January 2007 and the 13^th ASEAN Summit in Singapore on 20 November 2007, The Blueprint of ASEAN Charter focused on “One Vision, One Identity” and “One Caring and Sharing Community” were declared by the leaders of ASEAN. One purpose of this blueprint is to create the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015. This is the success of ASEAN members in agreement of common interest. This Charter could provide the means to expedite regional economic integration, particularly in transforming the region into an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2020. Moreover it brought together the ASEAN+3 (the ten member countries of ASEAN plus China, Japan and South Korea to share more on bilateral and multilateral Cooperation and it will create greater impetus to cooperate in trade, investment, and finance in the future. Apart from China. Japan and South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand wanted to cooperate more in the region. Sub-regional cooperation which consist of some members of ASEAN such as BIMP-EAGA, GMA and SIJORI were also discussed and expanded more on cooperation in these countries.

            In 2007 up to 2015 every country in Southeast Asia concentrated on solving the internal problem, more or less, in order to cooperate in ASEAN Community. Thailand faced the problem of political instability but has to solve the internal problems and at the same time making outward looking policy. In Malaysia, even the leader faced with corruption allegation, the country has to solve this problem in order to bring stability to the country.

            The new president of Indonesia has to adjust the new policy to more outward looking than before. Nothing to say about Singapore of which political stability bring about economic development to the country. Economic development in the Philippines bring many foreign investors to the country. This is because of political stability of President Aguino.

            Myanmar just finished the election but the leaders have to negotiate in order to bring the economic development to the country. Indochina also try to cooperate more with the neighboring countries.

            Timor Leste has just developed and there is still a long way to go. But many countries in Southeast Asia try to help for development in various matters.  As of now, these countries are the members of ASEAN Community. The problems is, if the national interest bring up against with the common interest, it many create many conflicts among the members.