THESE norms-setting activities shall adhere to the following fundamental principles: 1) nonalignment; 2) fostering of peace-oriented attitudes of members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean); 3) conflict resolution through nonviolent means; 4) renunciation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and avoidance of an arms race in Southeast Asia; and 5) renunciation of the threat or the use of force.
Asean members shall, therefore, engage in such activities as strengthening the Asean Declaration of 1967; the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality; the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation; and the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ). SEANWFZ regimes develop their own regional legal frameworks, and establish a Code of Conduct in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
Conflict prevention
BASED on the principles contained in the code of conduct governing relations between states and diplomatic instrument for the promotion of peace, security and stability in the region, the objectives of conflict prevention shall be: 1) to strengthen confidence and trust within the community; 2) to mitigate tensions and prevent disputes from arising between or among member countries as well as between member-countries and non-Asean members; and 3) to prevent the
escalation of existing disputes.
Asean members shall enhance security cooperation by strengthening confidence-building measures; carrying out preventive diplomacy; resolving outstanding regional issues; and enhancing cooperation on nontraditional security issues.
Conflict resolution
IT is essential that any dispute involving Asean members be resolved in a peaceful way and in the spirit of promoting peace, security and stability in the region. While continuing to use national, bilateral and international mechanisms, Asean members shall endeavor to use the existing regional dispute-settlement mechanisms and processes in political and security areas and work toward innovative modalities, including arrangements to maintain regional peace and security.
Postconflict peace-building
POSTCONFLICT peace-building seeks to create the conditions necessary for sustainable peace in conflict-torn areas and to prevent the resurgence of conflict. It is a process involving broad-based interagency cooperation and coordination across a wide range of issues. Asean activities related to postconflict peace-building shall include the establishment of appropriate mechanisms and the mobilization of resources. As an Asean family, members should assist one another in postconflict peace-building efforts, such as humanitarian relief assistance, reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Implementing mechanisms
TO ensure the effective implementation of the action plan, the following measures are to be undertaken:
1) The Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) shall take the necessary follow-up measures to implement this action plan, including consultation and coordination with other relevant Asean ministerial bodies; to set up ad-hoc groups as appropriate; and to report annually the progress of implementation to the Asean Summit, as well as to introduce new measures and activities to strengthen the Asean Security Community (ASC), as appropriate.
2) The AMM shall review the progress of this action plan. The AMM shall inscribe permanently an item, titled the “Implementation of the ASC Plan of Action,” in the agenda of its meetings.
3) The secretary-general of the Asean shall assist the Asean chairman in monitoring and reviewing the progress of implementation of this action plan.
Other areas of activities
TO realize the ASC by 2020, its members shall endeavor to work toward the implementation of the areas of activities under the action plan. It is acknowledged that some of these activities are already ongoing and at various stages of implementation. Additional activities could also be implemented in the future.
E-mail: cecilio.arillo@gmail.com.