2 - ASEM and Southeast Asian Countries' Foreign Policy: Case Study: The Issue of Myanmar in the 2004 ASEM Enlargement

Summary

This chapter argues that, contrary to some criticism of its role, ASEM has actually been quite useful in enhancing foreign policy advantage, at least for some Asian countries, and especially for the ASEAN countries and China. This chapter presents empirical data that show the way in which ASEAN countries and China have been able to make use of ASEM to advance their foreign policy goals. To undertake this task, this chapter uses the case of Myanmar's accession to ASEM in 2004. The case study of Myanmar was chosen for two reasons. First, the disagreement between the Asian countries and the EU countries over Myanmar's membership of ASEM created the most critical point in ASEM's history, degrading the relations between the Asians and the Europeans to their lowest point. Yet both sides managed to agree to a compromise solution to the crisis. Second, human rights is the most difficult and sensitive political issue between Asian and European states. It reflects not only the most serious difference between the two regions but also the biggest obstacle to harmonious inter-regional relations.

ASEM has been maintained because it fulfils certain interests of ASEAN and China. As the Myanmar case study will reveal, ASEAN member countries and China were able to take advantage of the ASEM enlargement in 2004, at least in this instance, to gain political advantage in their relations with the EU countries. The argument is built on the results of the interviews about the common Asian position in supporting Myanmar's accession to ASEM in 2004. The in-depth interview data as well as documentary and news studies are analysed by using the framework of traditional power games among states to pursue interests through international institutions.

This chapter investigates the advancement of foreign policy by states, a focus that has been traditionally observed by realism. Realists perceive international relations as an arena wherein states, or other international actors, pursue their interests.