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7 - Joint ASEAN agreements

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2016

Ingo Venzke
Affiliation:
Universiteit van Amsterdam
Li-ann Thio
Affiliation:
National University of Singapore
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Summary

While the ASEAN Secretary-General (ASG) has entered into agreements, especially Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), either on behalf of ASEAN as an IO or, in exceptional cases, on behalf of the governments of ASEAN where so authorised, the ASG has so far made limited use of the potentially more encompassing competences in the conduct of external relations. It seems yet a distant practice that ASEAN as an IO would enter into international agreements, which would then create hard obligations for the Member States. The agreements that matter are concluded as plurilateral agreements (Chapter 5). But many of such, on the surface, plurilateral agreements, may also be considered slightly differently as joint ASEAN agreements. The parties to these agreements are still states, but the fact that the states on one side of the agreement, in one column of the signatures, together form ASEAN is not without effect. From a strictly formalist point of view, the difference between plurilateral and joint ASEAN agreements is indeed slim, almost non-existent. What we are proposing is a different reading. And the way in which they are read, we submit, does make a difference. What is more, a different reading of plurilateral agreements as joint ASEAN agreements is not only possible, but also warranted so as to credit the principle of ASEAN centrality.

In this chapter, we set out the argument that many of ASEAN's external relations, in critical fields such as economic relations, may well be understood as a form of joint ASEAN agreements. In particular, while rights and obligations rest with Member States, the role of the Secretariat is enhanced, and external agreements can show an internal effect in the relationship between ASEAN as a distinct entity and its Member States. What is more, we suggest that there is a strong argument in favour of harmonious interpretation by members, not only of the Charter and internal agreements, but of external agreements as well.

Specifically, by involving ASEAN in external agreements, Member States’ commitments in such agreements might be subject to monitoring and review within the framework of ASEAN in a way that can be (but need not be) connected to the enforcement mechanisms of the external agreement itself. These are internal effects of the ASEAN legal regime.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2016

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  • Joint ASEAN agreements
  • Ingo Venzke, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Li-ann Thio, National University of Singapore
  • Book: The Internal Effects of ASEAN External Relations
  • Online publication: 05 July 2016
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781316588338.008
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  • Joint ASEAN agreements
  • Ingo Venzke, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Li-ann Thio, National University of Singapore
  • Book: The Internal Effects of ASEAN External Relations
  • Online publication: 05 July 2016
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781316588338.008
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Joint ASEAN agreements
  • Ingo Venzke, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Li-ann Thio, National University of Singapore
  • Book: The Internal Effects of ASEAN External Relations
  • Online publication: 05 July 2016
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781316588338.008
Available formats
×