Singapore's Submission on Review of ASEAN Processes

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs following the recent ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and Related Meetings in Brunei, whether he can provide an update on the strategic thrust ahead, ASEAN's response to the paper submitted by Singapore on the review of ASEAN's processes and institutions, and Singapore's stand on the South China Sea issue.

As the two questions are related, I will take them together. I will speak first on what lies ahead for ASEAN and how Singapore's non-paper on the "Review of ASEAN Institutions" fits in, and then update the House on the South China Sea issue.

The key strategic issue facing ASEAN is how to maintain our centrality and relevance in an increasingly complex and challenging geopolitical and economic environment. This was clearly on the minds of all the Leaders at the recent ASEAN Summit held in Brunei on 24-25 April. Since the ASEAN Charter entered into force in 2008, the world has changed immensely, and change continues at an unprecedented rate and in unpredictable ways. This is a new and inescapable reality that will be with us for the foreseeable future.

ASEAN Community-building thus takes on even greater strategic importance. A united and economically integrated ASEAN is essential if we are to hold our own in the new environment and remain an attractive partner for the major powers. ASEAN still has much to do to fulfil our goal of establishing an ASEAN Community in 2015, as well as implement the Initiative for ASEAN Integration Work Plan II, the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Nor will all be settled on the stroke of midnight on 31 December 2015. That is but one milestone in a continuing process of adaptation to the new environment.

To ensure that we can adapt in a timely and effective manner, ASEAN must review its decision-making processes and institutions. This was the essential reason for our decision to present a non-paper on the "Review of ASEAN Institutions" to the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting on 8 April 2013. The non-paper makes some suggestions on how to streamline meetings, develop a more systematic approach towards external partnerships and strengthen the ASEAN Secretariat.

Our paper was, generally, well received by ASEAN officials and at their last Summit, the Leaders had instructed the Ministers to proceed with the review. But I must emphasise that a "non-paper" is only intended to start a conversation and is not a definitive plan of action. ASEAN has yet to conduct in-depth discussions on our paper and has not yet reached consensus on the way forward. Members will appreciate that under these circumstances, it would be inappropriate to share the detailed contents of our paper with the public at this time.

On the South China Sea (SCS), Singapore's position has not changed since I last updated this House in January 2013. The Leaders recently endorsed the 20 July 2012 Foreign Minister's statement on the Six-Point Principles on the SCS and ASEAN's call for an early start to negotiations on a Code of Conduct (COC) in the SCS.

ASEAN continues to engage China on the COC. Both sides had a useful round of discussions at the ASEAN-China Senior Officials' Consultation in Beijing on 2 April 2013, where we agreed to continue consultations on the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the SCS (DOC), as well as on the way forward on a COC. We were encouraged by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's recent expression of China's readiness to explore a COC with ASEAN. However, we are still at the stage of talking about talks on a COC. I hope China will come to a decision on this soon. It would be an important and concrete way of commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership which we celebrate this year.