ASEAN Member States Research Articles

Strategies for Achieving SDGs on the Main Points of Poverty Eradication: A Case Study of ASEAN Member States

This research aims to support the main goal of SDG’s, it’s mean poverty eradication. The instruments used in this research to eradicate poverty are through increasing the value of the Corruption Perceptions Index, the Human Development Index, and the Giving Index. This research uses a quantitative panel data method with a Random Effect Model. The results show that the Corruption Perceptions Index, the Human Development Index, and the Giving Index have a significant negative effect on poverty both partially and simultaneously. The results of this study show that poverty alleviation requires contributions from all parties, namely the government, fellow citizens, and even the poor themselves. The government, as the holder of power, is able to make policies to eradicate poverty. These policies will succeed if there is no corruption. Excessively charitable individuals provide assistance to those in need, thus creating a more even distribution and welfare of the needy population. The poor themselves must also strive to improve their quality to escape poverty.

ASEAN Centered Regional Architecture in Managing Sustainable Investment Under the RCEP

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) that consist of 15 Asian member countries established in 2021 which to achieve a trade liberalization in the region. The Asian countries have been recognized as the motor of global regionalism and have heightened the Asian region become the center of global economy. This article aims to examine the provisions of RCEP on trade in investment whether it supports sustainability of investment in the region. The region will become a seamlessly market as the region is a market with free flow of goods, services, and investment. While the result of the Pact has not identified yet, this agreement constitutes as a significant effort of ASEAN as one entity, taking the lead of the implementation RCEP, in this current legal regime to gain leverage over its dialogue trade partners. In light of this, the current article’s objective is to observe and evaluate the overall role of ten ASEAN Member States (AMS) which work together to collectively in advancing their part in RCEP by comparing RCEP with International Partnership Economic Framework (IPEF). This study is multidisciplinary research using collected research materials include data and information that have been analyzed from legal and economic perspectives using qualitative descriptive method and found that RCEP investment provisions are utilized to support, realize and attain the ASEAN’ grand strategy to achieve and maintains sustainability of investment in this new Asian regionalism.

THE INFLUENCE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW ON MUNICIPAL LEGAL SYSTEMS IN ASEAN

<p>The paper explores the influence of international law on ASEAN member states' municipal legal systems, with a focus on treaty incorporation, customary international law, and involvement with international jurisprudence and institutions. It emphasizes the challenges that ASEAN faces, such as fragmentation, a lack of public awareness, and varying political conditions, which interfere with the unified implementation of international law. Despite these challenges, mutual dependence and aspirations for regional integration demand continuous compliance to international law. The ASEAN Charter plays an essential role in strengthening the region's legal framework. Furthermore, efforts to address fragmentation, raise public awareness, and increase stronger political commitment to international law are essential for an ASEAN region that is stable, honors human rights, and is fully integrated.</p><p>Keywords: ASEAN, Compliance, International law,</p>

Accepting Timor Leste as an ASEAN member: an act of compassion or a geopolitical necessity?

Timor Leste has been accepted “in principle” as the 11th ASEAN country in 2022, after 11 years of waiting. The 11-year delay is said to be due to skepticism from some Southeast Asian countries, which consider Timor-Leste an “uncertain situation”. Many domestic issues, influenced by the international context, have added to this situation. These include concerns about the consolidation of democratic state institutions in Timor-Leste, as well as the prospects for its short-term economy and internal security. Existing solely on the decline of the Petroleum Fund, which is expected to disappear within a decade, the country risks falling into a budget abyss. As the smallest economy in the entire Southeast Asia region, with the second lowest GDP per capita and high poverty and unemployment rates, Timor Leste has a long way to go to catch up with the remaining members of ASEAN. Despite these economic shortcomings, ASEAN still decided to accept Timor Leste as a new member. This article aims to explain Timor-Leste's credibility in meeting the political, economic and socio-cultural security criteria of the ASEAN pillars. It tries to explain why ASEAN accepted Timor-Leste. Using qualitative methods, the article shows that ASEAN member states have a real incentive to help Timor catch up with other members to avoid its economic collapse. However, the growing geopolitical rivalry between China and the US in the region is perhaps the best explanation for ASEAN's eventual desire to accept Timor Leste's membership application.

Strategic Hedging in ASEAN: A Response to the Rise of (Beijing and) Washington

This article problematizes three predominant narratives surrounding the behavior of ASEAN member states and the rivalry between Beijing and Washington in the context of ASEAN’s political security. This qualitative research is developed through a mixed assessment of documents, archive, and literature reviews combined with behavioral and contextual observations. Firstly, it questions the narrative of the ‘assertiveness’ of China as a rising power. With close trading relations dating back to the first dynasties, this Paper argues that the notion of China’s assertiveness and aggression is misplaced. As a key regional trade partner, China was never a threat to ASEAN countries. This narrative developed with the growing interest of the United States to contain the region from China over the years. As such, there lies a gap in the literature, which leads to the singling out of narratives that better explain the holistic relation between ASEAN states and China. Secondly, this article surfaces the lack of consistent commitment of the US to the Asia Pacific (also referred to as the ‘Asia Pivot’), other than to signify its interest in aggressively preventing China from dominating the Indo-Pacific. In this sense, the US’ behavior is viewed less as a great power but more as a greatly reactive one. Lastly, hedging is analyzed here as a necessary response to the dynamics of the Indo-Pacific arena and not a manner of indecisiveness among member states, often claimed as ‘small states’ in the face of the rivalry taking place in its backyard. Keywords: ASEAN, assertiveness, China, hedging, strategy

Practical applications of teledentistry during the Covid-19 pandemic in ASEAN member states – a systematic review

ObjectiveThe objective of this review is to determine the utilisation and adoption of teledentistry based solutions and technologies during the Covid-19 Pandemic in the Asean region.BackgroundTeledentistry is a branch of telemedicine that has rapidly advanced in the last few years and has the potential to provide solutions to oral health problems of patients and locations that do not have prompt and immediate access to a dentist or dental services. The Covid-19 has increased the adaption of all digital health technologies and teledentistry is no exception.MethodologyThe study utilized online databases such as Pubmed (Medline), Scopus (Embase) and CINAHL for the purpose of document search. Newcastle Ottawa (NOS) scale was used to determine the quality of the studies included in our systematic review. PRISMA guidelines were used as the criteria for reporting items in the systematic review.ResultsA total of 1297 documents were found after applying the search criteria and the keywords for the selected study. After applying the Prisma guidelines, removal of duplicates and irrelevant entries, 10 studies that were conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic were selected, fitting the inclusion criteria. All the studies included were evaluated for quality and risk of bias through the Newcastle Ottawa scale. Only high-quality studies were included for the final review.ConclusionTeledentistry is a cost-effective solution to screen, diagnose and treat dental patients from a distance. Teledentistry also has the potential to continue seamless continuation of dental education to dental students, during disruptive and non-disruptive periods. ASEAN countries should fully utilise the potential of teledentistry, however sound and effective legislation would be the key first step to achieving that potential.

Foreign Direct Investment in ASEAN Airline Industry

The development of aviation market in Southeast Asia after the Covid-19 pandemic is promising. More aircraft are delivered to the Asia-Pacific region, including the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States. The introduction of ASEAN Open Skies (also known as ASEAN Single Aviation Market) a decade earlier together with ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025 goals for an integrated and cohesive regional economy highlight the importance of a seamless air connectivity. Liberalisation of the airline industry in ASEAN Member States is crucial to restart the airline industry pre-pandemic and to grasp the so-called Asian century momentum. However, ASEAN Member States are reluctant towards liberalisation efforts, maintaining protectionism on both freedoms of the air (traffic rights) as well as foreign direct investment (ownership and control). Existing legal framework at regional level, namely ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) and ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA), only received lukewarm attention from ASEAN Member States. This article discusses the urgency to recall the commitment of a gradual liberalisation based on AFAS and ATISA among the ASEAN Member States, the implementation of which will lead to the establishment of a regional community carrier which benefits ASEAN citizens.

Nonlinear effects of financial openness on financial development in ASEAN

This study examines the nonlinear effects of financial openness on financial development in the representative ASEAN member states: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. It reveals that with a low (high) level of financial openness, the assets and liabilities of foreign direct investment increase (decrease) equity market capitalization and the financial development, institution, and market indices. We identify a threshold of financial openness where its positive impact begins to diminish; beyond this point, excessive financial openness may become detrimental to financial development. By reassessing the risks associated with financial openness after the Asian financial crisis, we can understand that the potential toxicity amplified by financial openness may pose threats to financial development.

Complexity of Legal Harmonisation in Southeast Asia: A Diversity of Legal Systems & Languages

The eleven countries of the Southeast are quite diverse in terms of culture, religion, language and legal system. All members except Thailand were colonies of European powers who introduced their legal systems. Even Thailand, which was never colonised, was influenced by the laws of the European powers. This European influence has resulted in a range of political and legal systems. Although English is the working language of ASEAN, it is the national language of none. Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Thailand use a non-Latin script, and Vietnam uses Latin-based orthography to complicate matters further. The diversity of national and official languages is a crucial element impacting the ability of ASEAN member states to harmonise their laws, so there is a common approach to prosecuting international criminal activity. Such an approach is critical as the ASEAN Economic Community moves to greater integration. The article briefly describes the importance of language in understanding legal concepts. Then, it describes the variety of legal systems in place across Southeast Asia, which, other than the case of Thailand, are vestiges of their colonial past. The article discusses three possible models for harmonisation/ cooperation: a set of model laws, accession to an international treaty, or an agreement to cooperate. In the case of Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore, where legal systems use English, all three models could be used. For the other seven countries, because of their language diversity, it is argued that the set of model laws is inappropriate. The preferred option is a treaty or convention that sets out the scope and minimum requirements to be included in the local law and the obligations to cooperate. The Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention) is a possible model. Keywords: Southeast Asia, Cybercrime Convention, Law harmonisation, Legal translation, Model law

The impact of climate change on economic growth: A study of ASEAN countries

Climate change is an urgent and worldwide concern that presents substantial risks to a range of industries, such as agriculture, water resources, and economic growth. The purpose of this research is to assess how climate change has affected the economic expansion of ASEAN nations. Land pollution, sea level rise, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are utilized to quantify climate change. Empirically investigating this issue, the Fixed Effects Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) method is utilized in conjunction with panel data spanning the years 1990 to 2018. The findings from the FGLS model estimation suggest that climate change exerts a varied influence on the economic growth of ASEAN member states. More precisely, total pesticide use in agriculture has a positive impact on economic development, whereas CO2 emissions have a detrimental effect. Moreover, economic growth is positively impacted by foreign direct investment, trade openness, and institutional stability. To stimulate economic expansion and bolster growth drivers, ASEAN nations must adopt more robust measures to deal with climate change.

Fake news and disinformation in Southeast Asia: how should ASEAN respond?

Southeast Asian nations are vulnerable to fake news and disinformation due to the lack of digital literacy, growing dependence upon online platforms, and the non-democratic nature of ASEAN member states. ASEAN has agreed in the past years to decide, at the normative level, the importance of countering fake news and disinformation. However, it lacks a collective, regional approach. It is suggested that ASEAN define what fake news and disinformation consist of, elevation to a non-traditional security threat, and establishment of an ASEAN-centered fast-checking network as feasible policy options to counter fake news and disinformation in the region. In countering this sensitive issue, special attention is needed to consider ASEAN’s philosophical foundations of non-interference, non-intervention, and respect for sovereignty, which allows state practices of surveillance, legal prosecutions, firewalls, and censorships to be maintained.

Indonesia’s Roles in Myanmar’s Rohingya Crisis: Through the Lens of Public Diplomacy

Myanmar's Rohingya crisis is one of the intractable conflicts in South East Asia that has been unsolved until now. The Rohingya, as a minority group in Myanmar, suffer from human rights violations by the majority Buddhist Rakhine population with central government support. In effect, many of them fled to neighboring countries, such as Thailand, India,Indonesia and Nepal, and other countries across the region (UN Refugees, 2022). Indonesia, as one of the founding members of ASEAN, thinks that ASEAN must solve this conflict, but the obstacle faced by ASEAN is the non-intervention principle. With the differences in ideology and national interest of ASEAN member states, this conflict is not to be the utmost priority by the ASEAN Members. Indonesia gave attention to Myanmar’s Rohingya crisis since the crisis emerged in 1948 at the same time Myanmar gained independence from Great Britain. As an ASEAN host this year, Indonesia intensified its role to be a peace broker through shuttle diplomacy and engaging key players in Myanmar. Indonesia realized that this conflict must be solved by bringing to the table the key players in Myanmar’s Rohingya conflict. This conflict matters for Indonesia, because of achance for Indonesia to be portrayed as one of the countries that enhance its reputation and want to revive its glory moment in the Soeharto era that can solve regional conflict. Public diplomacy will be used in this paper by seeing the efforts of the Indonesian government, especially during President Jokowi's second term. As Joseph S. Nye said <<soft power is the ability to affect others to obtain the outcomes one wants through attraction rather than coercion or payment>>, we can see the Indonesia effort through shuttle diplomacy, implementation of the Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar, and humanitarian aid to solve this conflict. The capacity of Indonesia to be an honest peace broker is natural because of the resources that Indonesia had in several areas, particularly in political and economic areas.

From Pixels to Taxes: A Comparative Study of Digital Economy Tax Policies in the Philippines to Selected ASEAN Member States

This research focuses into the proposed Digital Economy Taxation Act, scrutinizing its provisions aimed at bolstering income tax and value-added tax (VAT) compliance. The bill mandates network intermediaries and ecommerce platforms, including those without a physical presence in the country, to act as withholding agents, a move that has sparked debate over its implementation challenges, such as the requirement for non-resident entities to establish a representative office within the Philippines. Utilizing qualitative method through documentary analysis, this study compares the Philippine approach to digital taxation with initiatives undertaken by other ASEAN countries, analyzing literature, articles, reports, blogs, and media releases to gain insights to the regional tax landscape. The paper seeks to uncover the nuances of each country's digital tax policies, focusing on the variance in tax rates and the thresholds set for business registration. The analysis extends to the potential economic impacts of the Digital Economy Taxation Act on the Philippines, considering both the opportunities and complexities posed by its enforcement. The paper underscores the imperative nature of digital taxation in an era increasingly reliant on digital transactions while highlighting the challenges associated with tax collection from non-resident digital service providers. The research provides a comprehensive understanding of the ASEAN digital taxation framework and offer insights into establishing unambiguous rules that ensure effective tax collection without hindering the growth of the burgeoning digital economy.

A Qualitative Analysis on the Cross-Country Experiences of selected ASEAN Member States on Gender and Development

ASEAN has been vocal with its support to gender equality and women empowerment, they formed committees and regional mechanisms that will guide them in achieving this. They also spearheaded various meetings with its member states and established partnerships with other organizations outside ASEAN to further enhance their response to gender and development. Their aim is to promote gender and development with its three pillars to create a gender sensitive society. Based on the data gathered, the LGBTQI+ Community and the women sector of all ASEAN member states are still struggling to get the support and acceptance of ASEAN as well as most of the people especially to those countries who are culture centered, but despite of their struggle they remain positive and hoping that the society will soon accept them wholeheartedly. There may be developments, but hardships are still visible in their work and in society, they still lack opportunities to grow in the fields that are dominated by men, they are still suffering from unequal treatment, and some are still not represented in politics.

Analysing India’s Export Competitiveness in ASEAN Economies: Insights from Viner’s Trade Creation Model

Both India and ASEAN are characterised by dynamic market economies and have implemented extensive reforms to deepen their economic integration. Despite the existing economic links between them, this article acknowledges that the trade relations are significant but fall short of their full potential. In this context, the present study utilises a modified trade creation approach to estimate India’s export potential at the sectoral level with individual ASEAN member states for the years 2010 and 2021. The analysis has identified five most significant trading partners in the region, namely, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, which together represent substantial trading opportunities in the five broad sectors such as Machinery, Chemical products, Base metals, Plastics, Minerals. Additionally, this article explores ASEAN’s GVC linkages with India vis-à-vis world at an aggregate and sectoral level over the last decade. We base our analysis on the P&C using the UN Broad Economic Category (BEC) product classification, concorded with HS trade classification. The findings reveal a marginal decline in the region’s share of GVC trade with India relative to its global GVC trade. JEL Classification: F10, F14, F15

The Impact of Vaccination, Infection and Fatality Rate on ASEAN Air Transport Industry in the Pandemic Period

This study aims to determine the impact of COVID-19 on air connectivity in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, specifically focusing on infection, vaccination and fatality rates. To examine the impact of COVID-19 on the ASEAN air transport industry, a panel data series was created. The panel covered data from 57 airlines with different business models in the 10 ASEAN member states from January 2019 to July 2022 (31 months). The results of the study have shown that there is a significant inverse linear relationship between full-service and low-cost international flight movements, passenger demand and vaccination rate, infection rate and fatality rate. At the country level, Brunei experienced the lowest drop in air passenger demand, followed by the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia. Other countries (Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam) were not significant predictors of passenger demand. The study’s results have indicated that an increase in infection rate has a greater impact on the international air travel market compared to the domestic market. The reduction rate of the domestic market is only half that of the international market, while the fatality rate demonstrated no differences. This study represents a valuable contribution to the existing knowledge of the pandemic’s impact on the air transport industry, focusing on Southeast Asian countries. It provides evidence to help stakeholders in the aviation industry prepare for future related crises. The study concludes that fostering greater cooperation and coordination among ASEAN member states in managing health crises and facilitating the aviation industry can promote economic growth, enhance resilience and strengthen regional integration in the long run. JEL Classification: F02, I30

ASEAN cooperation to combat transnational crime: progress, perils, and prospects

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has grappled with the persistent threat of transnational crime (TC) in Southeast Asia since its establishment in 1967. The rising tide of globalization and technological advancement has only exacerbated the problem, leading to the evolution and organization of various criminal activities. As ASEAN faces a multitude of non-traditional security challenges that transcend national borders, including climate change, infectious diseases, and resource scarcity, TC remains a critical concern that could jeopardize regional stability and security. This article undertakes an extensive analysis of ASEAN's endeavors to combat TC. It delves into key documents outlining ASEAN's commitment, highlights the significant achievements, and identifies the challenges facing the region. The qualitative study evaluates the effectiveness of ASEAN's response to TC within its cooperative framework and core principles. Through content analysis, it draws insights from ASEAN's official documents, as well as reports from Interpol and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, to understand the regional efforts in countering TC. The research reveals a range of collaborative efforts initiated by ASEAN to tackle TC. By focusing on examples of successful operations, such as Operation Maharlika III against human trafficking and Operation HAECHI-I targeting cybercrime, the study underscores the vital role of cross-border cooperation. However, the analysis highlights the challenges posed by the complex nature of TC and the varying capabilities of ASEAN member states. It underscores the importance of regional cooperation and external partnerships to address the evolving threats of TC effectively. In essence, ASEAN's commitment to combating TC is evident through the adoption of strategic documents, joint operations, and capacity-building initiatives. Nevertheless, the evolving nature of TC and its diverse manifestations pose ongoing challenges. A balanced approach in addressing TC is needed that encompasses not only securitization but also a criminal justice response.

The Role of Indonesia in Strengthening the Concept of “We Feeling” and ASEAN Identity in the 2023 ASEAN Chairmanship

This research explores Indonesia's role as the Chair of ASEAN in 2023 in promoting the concept of "We Feeling" and revitalizing the collective identity of ASEAN. Through a comprehensive analysis of Indonesia's diplomatic efforts, the policy framework it has implemented, and its active engagement at the regional level during its tenure as ASEAN Chair, this study reveals Indonesia's key role in strengthening the sense of unity, common goals, and solidarity among ASEAN member states. The research also investigates the strategies employed by Indonesia to facilitate open dialogue, enhance intra-regional cooperation, and address common challenges with the ultimate goal of reinforcing the spirit of the united ASEAN community, known as the ASEAN Community. Furthermore, this abstract explains the significance of the concept of ASEAN Centrality and Indonesia's crucial role in upholding it during its ASEAN Chairmanship. This study provides a profound understanding of Indonesia's role in guiding ASEAN toward a more cohesive, united, and relevant future. The concept of "We Feeling" serves as the foundation for these efforts, fostering closer relationships among member states and reflecting upon ASEAN's collective identity in the context of increasingly close regional cooperation.

The Role of Digitalization in EAEU–ASEAN Dialogue

The article examines the role of digitalization in EAEU–ASEAN dialogue. The EAEU tries to develop cooperation with Southeast Asia, as for separate states, so with ASEAN. The sides have made some significant steps for strengthening of their interaction for the last years. However, the EAEU and ASEAN still have no free trade agreement or other formal document for economic cooperation. One of reasons for that seems to be relatively low level of trade ties and integration between EAEU and ASEAN member-states. EAEU and ASEAN officials make focus at their dialogue for facilitation and development of their economic cooperation. The digitalization takes important position in this interaction. The EAEU and ASEAN pay special attention to digitalization in their programs of development. The EAEU and ASEAN representatives accented the importance of digitalization as an instrument of cooperation (for example, in the relation of customs regulations and electronic trade). Digitalization issues have been included into agenda of different events with participation of the EAEU and ASEAN (for instance, Petersburg International Economic Forums). Representatives of the EAEU and ASEAN, separate member-states and business-communities discussed digitalization. Although the digitalization of EAEU–ASEAN cooperation makes the first steps, but, at the same time, we can see some practical results (on the example of activities of the Russia-Singapore Business Council and Singaporean company vCargoCloud). The digitalization in the framework of EAEU–ASEAN interaction has prospects for further development and can create conditions for strengthening ties between the EAEU and ASEAN.

Empowering Economic Growth: The Transformative Impact of Elеctricity Access in ECOWAS and ASEAN Member States

Empowering Economic Growth: The Transformative Impact of Elеctricity Access in ECOWAS and ASEAN Member States