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SMUNC 2019

ASSOCIATION OF

SOUTH

EAST

ASIAN

NATIONS

BACKGROUND

GUIDE

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Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Letter from the Dias ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Laith Al Sayed ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Meher Plahay ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Polen Light ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3

Lette from the Executive ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4

Tebat Kadhem ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4

Armaan Sahgal ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4

Topic 1: South China Sea ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5

Definitions .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5

Historical Background ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6

Prior ASEAN activity ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 7

Task of the Committee ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Topic 2: Trade Protectionism ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 8

Key terms and Definitions ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8

Historical background ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 9

Current Issues ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11

Key actors in recent issues ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14

ASEAN Activities ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 15

Task of the committee .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16

Recommended Reading ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16

Bibliography......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17

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Letter from the Dias

Laith Al Sayed

Chair of ASEAN

Meher Plahay

Co Chair of ASEAN

Polen Light

Treasurer and Co Chair

of ASEAN

Hello, and welcome SMUNC 2019!

My name is Laith AlSayed, and I will be one of the chairpersons for ASEAN. From the south China

sea, to religious conflicts, we’ve got a great range of pressing topics I can’t wait to discuss. Born in

Riyadh and grown up in Bahrain, I am a cross between a Palestinian-Saudi, and I am a US citizen.

Being placed between two very different worlds, I’ve had the privilege hearing various perspectives

across my lifetime, and always look forward to understanding more. I started getting involved with

MUN in 9th grade, when I participated as a delegate for the very first time. I loved the opportunity to

express ideas and discuss important issues, and since then, have participated in over 20 MUN

conferences across Bahrain. Being able to chair 10 of them, I had the opportunity to become Secretary

General of our own MUN conference in 2016. The subsequent year, I moved on to become the Student

Director of our very first international conference.

Outside of MUN, I am a Management and International Business student streaming in finance. I also

enjoy running, time in nature, and of course, playing my favorite video game series of all time,

Kingdom Hearts.

I’m happy to be chairing ASEAN for this conference, as it plays a pivotal role in representing today’s

Global South. By challenging Western approaches, we can provide hope for many nations in

overcoming the historical roadblocks set by North-led initiatives. Whilst many of the efforts have

proven valuable, much of the Global North’s influence around the world has been quite detrimental or

exploitative, particularly with regards to US activity. It is our job to create solutions best tailored to our

individual states, and unite independently from the West in shaping our countries’ futures.

Furthermore, I’d like to inform you all that we will be following The Hague International Model

United Nations Rules of Procedure for committee sessions. For those who want to learn more, we will

be releasing the Rules of Procedure on January 11th 2019 on our website www.smunc2019.ca, as well,

we will be hosting a MUN 101 workshop on January 11th from 4PM – 6PM in HL006 at UTSC. We

will also be hosting a similar workshop 1 hour before opening ceremonies (4PM) on January 18th, 2019

in IC130. During the workshop we will be covering the basic structure of MUN, and going over all

important material.

I can’t wait to see what we’ll come up with this January.

Kind Regards, Laith Al Sayed

Chair of ASEAN

Hello delegates!

My name is Meher and I am excited to announce that I am part of the ASEAN committee for

the SMUNC 2019. I am currently a third year student at the University of Toronto Scarborough

specializing in Political Science and minoring in Public Law. As a specialist student, my focus of study

is Canadian law and international conflict on war and terrorism. This is my first year in experiencing

Model UN, however. I am tremendously excited to be part of the community and have the opportunity

to not only to help put the conference together, but to be able to engage in discussions about global

issues and to learn other individuals’ perspectives on various leading issues in the current international

system. Having that said, I encourage you all to participate in the upcoming SMUNC 2019, as this is

an opportunity and platform for you to express your thoughts and concerns on current matters that

inevitably affect us all and the future. This is an environment for students to speak their mind and share

solutions to real world issues. I hope to see many of you at the conference!

Kind Regards, Meher Plahay

Co Chair of ASEAN

Hello everyone,

I am Polen Light, an international student from Turkey. I am a first year at UTSC, doing International

Development Studies as Specialist/Co-op. This will be my 20th MUN and 3rd time in organization

side of MUN conferences. I will be managing finance and some conference day activities.

I sincerely hope all of you to have great time at SMUNC2019.

Kind Regards, Polen Light

Treasurer and Co Chair of ASEAN

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Lette from the Executive

Tebat Kadhem

Secretary General

Armaan Sahgal

Director of General

Assemblies and Chair

of Security Council

Dear delegates, staff, and friends,

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to the beautiful suburb of Scarborough,

Ontario on the 18th to the 20th of January 2019, for the First Annual Scarborough Model

United Nations Conference (SMUNC), hosted at the University of Toronto Scarborough

Campus. We hope to host a conference that is academically rigorous, all while providing an

incredible experience for delegates and staff.

The SMUNC 2019 executive team, and staff are working tirelessly to deliver an

unforgettable conference for all beginner, and experienced delegates. All delegates will be

provided with a platform to debate enriching topics, and will problem solve through

diplomatic, diverse, and challenging issues. Our carefully crafted committees this year are

jam-packed with exciting and innovative topics that will challenge delegates to think outside

of the box and find extensive and comprehensive solutions to international problems. SMUNC

2019 will also be a platform for delegates to network with peers of different backgrounds and

allow for meaningful connections and discussions amongst delegates. Our socials this year

will be held at Rex’s Den Bar on Friday night, and at Genghis Khan Mongolian Grill after

Saturday’s Committee sessions. It will be an opportunity for delegates to let loose and enjoy

themselves!

In an age characterized by growing uncertainties over international trade and

diplomacy, and with the world order in limbo, it is more important now than ever before to

understand the inner workings of the institutions that we are supposed to trust to keep our

lights on. I’d also like to urge our delegates to read the background guides (they will be posted

November 3rd at PM on our website) that have been carefully researched and planned, and to

be prepared to devise solutions to problems that our leaders seem incapable of solving. I am

looking forward to meeting you all in January, as we embark on a journey to lead the world.

Yours sincerely, Tebat Kadhem

Secretary General

Dear delegates,

I am a second-year student currently pursuing a double major in Political Science and

International Development Studies and have been involved in Model United Nations since

high school. Over the course of my experience in Model United Nations, I have participated in

over twenty conferences, primarily in China and Singapore. My most successful experience as

a delegate was in 2016 at The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN Hague)

in the Netherlands where I drafted a resolution that was passed in committee, passed in

plenary, and sent to the Secretariat of the United Nations.

I grew up in Singapore, Johannesburg, and Shanghai and moved to Toronto for

university in 2017. Having spent much of my childhood traveling and studying at international

schools, the one thing I am the most passionate about is fostering dialogue between the youth.

Be it when I organised Initiative for Peace conferences for Thai and Burmese students, when I

represented the interests of my fellow students as a First Year Representative on the student

union, or when I take part in organizing this year’s Scarborough Model United Nations

Conference.

As Director of General Assemblies, I look forward to facilitating the exchange of ideas

amongst us: the future leaders and decision makers of this planet.

Kind Regards, Armaan Sahgal

Director of General Assemblies and Chair of Security Council

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Topic 1: South China Sea

Introduction

The South China Sea is a furtive and volatile region plagued by competing territorial claims over islands, atolls, and other seaborne land

formations that nations can use to claim larger territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zones. The People’s Republic of China has, in recent

years, artificially constructed islands in the region in order to boost its territorial holdings, a move that has largely been condemned by the

international community. The territorial disputes in this region are fuelled by the presence of resources ranging from fish to oil and minerals.

Supporters of Vietnamese and Filipino claims in the region often engage in “freedom of navigation” exercises involving traversing territory

within China’s claimed territorial waters. Most commonly, these exercises are undertaken by the American navy, though one of the more high-

profile instances of this was in 2011 when the Indian navy’s INS Airavat traversed disputed waters en route to Vietnam and refused to obey

Chinese authorities’ instructions to leave disputed waters.

Definitions

• Spratly (Nansha), Paracel (Xisha) Islands: Islands disputed between ASEAN members, the People’s Republic of China, and the Republic of

China

• Pedra Branca: Singaporean-administered island claimed by Malaysia, but ruled to be Singaporean territory by the International Court of Justice

• South Ledge and Middle Rocks: Land formations in the South China Sea located near Pedra Branca and subject to a territorial dispute between

Singapore and Malaysia which no international court has yet ruled on

• COC or Code of Conduct: Commonly agreed upon rules pertaining to activities taken in the South China Sea

• PRC: The People’s Republic of China, the entity governing the Chinese Mainland, and the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and

Macau

• Republic of China or ROC: The successor to the nationalist government of China which fled the mainland in 1949 after being overthrown by

Mao Zedong’s Chinese Communist Party. It currently governs Taiwan, Jinmen, Mazu and other minor islands recognised by most sovereign

states as pertaining to the PRC.

• South China Sea: The bulk of the body of water ranging from China to Indonesia

•EEZ or Exclusive Economic Zone: An area extending 370 kilometres from a state’s shoreline over which it has exclusive rights over economic

activities such as fishing and mineral extraction

• Nine dash line: A vaguely defined area of the South China Sea claimed by the PRC and the Republic of China in apparent violation of the 370

kilometre rule

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• The UNCLOS or United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea: The primary international agreement pertaining to the laws of the sea,

including territorial limits, officially accepted by most sovereign states with the notable exception of America.

Historical Background

Various parts of the South China Sea are subject to competing territorial claims by various ASEAN member states and both the PRC and

the Republic of China. The dispute ranges from island disputes such as those over the Spratly and Paracel Islands between various ASEAN states,

the PRC, and the Republic of China in the north and Pedra Branca, South Ledge, and Middle Rocks between Singapore and Malaysia in the

South.

The territorial dispute in the north is largely the result of the Nine Dash Line, an extensive portion of sea claimed by the Republic of

China prior to the Communist Revolution in 1949. Both the PRC and the Republic of China have continued to base their sovereignty claims in

the area on this claim. In 2016, a tribunal formed pursuant to the UNCLOS ruled there to be no legal basis for Chinese territorial claims based on

the Nine Dash Line. However, this ruling was immediately rejected both by the PRC and the Republic of China, who have continued to pursue

Chinese claims over the Spratly, Paracel, and other nearby islands.

Whilst the most contentious claims have been those of the two Chinese parties involved, there are also competing claims amongst

ASEAN states. For instance, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippine Islands, and Vietnam all have overlapping territorial claims in the region whilst

Brunei’s claimed EEZ extends into that claimed by the other parties based on the disputed islands. Similarly, the dispute over Pedra Branca and

related land formations in the South China Sea between Singapore and Malaysia has also been a source of contention, exacerbated by Singapore’s

status as a largely Chinese and Indian ethnic enclave in South East Asia. Nevertheless, Singapore has historically supported other ASEAN

members’ claims in territorial disputes involving China. The Pedra Branca dispute was partially resolved in 2018 as Malaysia officially dropped

its appeal to the International Court of Justice’s decision to award the island to Singapore. Whilst the other disputed land formations near Pedra

Branca remain disputed, neither side has attempted to militarise the area as has happened in the disputes with China.

America, India, and the United Kingdom are the primary external powers involved in the South China Sea dispute, and support the claims

of ASEAN members over those of the PRC and the Republic of China. India’s “Look East” Policy, emphasising closer relations with its

neighbours in the ASEAN bloc has resulted in their viewing the South China Sea dispute as an extension of its territorial conflict with the PRC.

America has been building an alliance with nations such as Vietnam and Singapore in order to counter Chinese influence in the region, and as

such supports ASEAN claims over Chinese claims without taking a position in disputes amongst ASEAN members. The United Kingdom is the

only external power that explicitly supports specific ASEAN states as it maintains a military alliance with Brunei and stations troops there to

defend the interests of the sultanate.

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The Republic of China has historically played a complex role in territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Whilst it roughly allies itself

with America despite a lack of diplomatic relations, it has traditionally collaborated with the PRC in pursuing Chinese claims in the South China

Sea. Such co-operation has traditionally been more open when the ROC’s pro-unification Guomindang party is in power, and strained during the

tenure of pro-independence administrations such as that of current President Cai Ying Wen. However, the PRC generally does not actively pursue

its claims over territory administered by the ROC, since it considers them to already be under Chinese administration.

Prior ASEAN activity

In August 2018, ASEAN and the PRC negotiated a preliminary COC. Whilst this has not resolved the territorial disputes, it is a

framework outlining conduct both sides deem acceptable and unacceptable in the South China Sea. Prior to this, the PRC refused to negotiate

with ASEAN as a bloc, arguing that each of its territorial disputes was solely between in and each country with which it has disputes. However,

as a result of pressure from the Trump and Modi administrations, that position was abandoned, paving the way for the first mutually binding

agreement between China and ASEAN regarding the South China Sea. Whilst the COC is effectively in place, negotiations are ongoing on

reaching more permanent solutions to the problem. Since no ASEAN member maintains diplomatic relations with the Republic of China, it has

been excluded entirely from negotiations despite controlling a significant portion of the islands. However, the Republic of China has historically

collaborated with the PRC in pursuing territorial claims in the South China Sea, since both sides are pursuing Chinese territorial claims, though

relations are currently strained by the pro-independence leanings of Taiwan’s current, beleaguered President Cai Ying Wen.

Task of the Committee

The task of the committee pertaining to this topic is to draft resolutions that address the underlying questions of sovereignty over disputed

islands and navigational freedom in the South China Sea. The COC agreed upon in 2018 generally outlines acceptable behaviour in the disputed

area by vessels and governments from China and ASEAN states, however the resolutions passed in this committee should focus on defining

behaviour that is acceptable by the international community at large as well as creating frameworks to resolve the territorial disputes.

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Topic 2: Trade Protectionism

Introduction

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is an intergovernmental organization located in Southeast Asia. The main focus of the

association is to obtain and secure intergovernmental cooperation and integration. Having been founded in 1967, ASEAN has since expanded its

number of member-states and global influence, and has experienced economic development as a result of its successful policies and agreements.

On an economic front, ASEAN has spearheaded several free trade regions of southeast and pacific Asia, resulting in building successful

integrated economics between member-states and the ability get out of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis with “Asian Financial Miracle”. However,

ASEAN is once again challenged by rising economic tensions between United States and China while giving their best efforts to finalize and

ratify the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and world’s largest economic bloc, that encapsulates 3.4 billion people in population

and 39% of world’s GDP.

Key terms and Definitions

1. Protectionism: Government actions and policies that restrict or restrain international trade, often done with the intent of protecting local

businesses and jobs from foreign competition. Typical methods of protectionism are import tariffs, quotas, subsidies or tax cuts to local

businesses and direct state intervention.

2. Quota: Quota is a trade restriction imposed by government to limit the amount of import or export for a specific period. They are used to

limit foreign investment in order to boost domestic production.

3. Tariff: Tariff is the tax on imported good or services.

4. Trade Bloc: Trade block is an intergovernmental agreement to reduce or eliminate barriers for trade among the signatories.

5. Free Trade Area: Free trade areas are zones where governments mutually agreed to impose little to no control over trade via tariffs or

quotas.

6. Currency Swap: Currency swap or cross-currency swap is exchange of interest and sometimes of principal in one currency for the same

in another currency. Interest payments are exchanged at fixed dates through the life of the contract.

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7. Trade War: Trade war happens when a country increases tariffs or barriers for foreign investment in response to another country

increasing barriers or tariffs against their country.

8. Gross Domestic Product: Gross domestic product (GDP) is the value of everything produced by companies and people in a country.

GDP is the most used method for calculating economic situation and growth.

9. Intellectual Property: Intellectual property is a general definition for any creation of the mind such as, a formula for medicine, art,

invention, blueprints, etc. They are protected by trademarks, copyrights and/or patents.

Historical background

ASEAN was founded on August 8th 1954 by Foreign Ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. The main

motivation of the association is cooperation among southeast Asian states. S. Rajaratnam, the former Minister of Culture of

Singapore, highlighted the importance of cooperation during inauguration day saying, “If ASEAN would succeed, then its members would have

to marry national thinking with regional thinking”. In the early days of its foundation, ASEAN’s primary focus was to create economic

cooperation, social structure, culture, technology, and education within the regions of the association. Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs,

Narciso Ramos observed the situation of their economic standing as “The fragmented economies of Southeast Asia”. This statement was a

important start point for ASEAN Economic Community, the umbrella group for all of ASEAN’s economic activities.

After seeing its initiative success, Brunei in 1984 Vietnam in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997 and finally Cambodia in 1999 joined

ASEAN. As more members joined ASEAN, organization’s regional impact and international respect increased.

In 1990, Mahathir Mohamad proposed East Asia Economic Caucus, the foundation of ASEAN plus three. This proposal was a free trade

area, encapsulating, ASEAN countries, People’s Republic of China, Japan and South Korea. The main goal of the proposition was to create a

competitivite region while counterbalancing APEC, an already existing free trade area in pacific dominated by US. This proposition met with

opposition from US and Japan. US didn’t like the idea of a new trade area in pacific that might counter balance. Japan on the other hand, didn't

like the idea of angering US, their trade partner.

However, even though the opposition succeeded in repealing the proposition, ASEAN continued the talks for a free trade area nevertheless. 1992

ASEAN members have signed a trade block agreement among themselves.

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In 1997 Asian Financial Crisis started in Indonesia. It was due to Indonesia fluctuating its currency, baht, to compete with US dollar. The

decision led to effective bankruptcy of Indonesia. The crisis then spread out to nearby southeast asian countries. International Monetary Fund

made initiated a 60 billion dollar program in order to stabilize the economy of Southeast Asia.

In the same year talks for a free trade area finalized and ASEAN Plus Three free trade area was founded. It is the first free trade area

spearheaded by ASEAN, that includes then members for ASEAN, China, South Korea and Japan. The effects of Asian Financial crisis was

actually in benefit of ASEAN Plus Three, due to the fact that countries depended on each other to get over economic issues. The effects of crisis

were diminished as Southeast Asian economies began to recover in 1999.

In 2007, ASEAN Economic Community, the umbrella community that oversees all ASEAN economic programs, adopted the blueprint

that would serve as the guideline for economic steps to be taken. The blueprint emphasized single market, competitive economic area, fair

development and attune to the global economy. In 2009 a new free trade area was created between ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand.

Another very big action ASEAN took to strengthen their economic stability was Chiang Mai Initiative. Chiang Mai initiative was the

name of the currency swap agreement between ASEAN members, People’s Republic of China, Japan and, South Korea. The talks for the

currency swap started as early as 2010, aiming to deal with short-term liquidity problems and prevent another Asian Financial Crisis.

Timeline of Events

Date Event

1967 ASEAN founded

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1984 Brunei joined ASEAN

1992 Trade Block Agreement

1995 Vietnam joined ASEAN

1997 Laos and Myanmar (formerly Burma) joined ASEAN

1997 Asian financial crisis

1997 Asean + Plus Three FTA

1999 Cambodia joins ASEAN

2009 Australia and New Zealand trade area

2010 Chiang Mai Initiative

2018 Trade war between US and China

Current Issues

Regional Comprehensive Trade Agreement or RCEP for short, is a free trade area proposition, extending on the previous ASEAN + Three

FTA. RCEP proposes that ASEAN + Three and every other mutual free trade agreements should be merged into one big free trade area.

The negotiations for RCEP started it in 2012, after stabilizing economy of the region. It is aimed to create even more stability and revenue

plus include the power of China and India. It also challenges the pacific strength of West once again, by opposing of Comprehensive and

Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). CTPP is the successor of Trans pacific partnership, a trade agreement in pacific

that was not ratified due to current US President Donald Trump’s decision. CPTPP is the exact same agreement of TPP, only without US.

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Countries participating in RCEP (left) and CPTPP (right)

However, ratification of RCEP is not that easy. The agreement has 16 signatories coming from very different political backgrounds like

China and Japan.

RCEP is crucial for long-term development and strategic cooperation for South East Asia, yet the talks has been stalling and with the

tension growing among US and China, ratification of RCEP is more important than ever in its history. But why exactly has been the main drager

of the issue, or who is the key player???

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Connecting with the previous issue, China - US trade war is the most attention demanding issue of this session. The trade war started

when US President Donald Trump increased tariffs on China, justifying his actions by stating the immoral work ethic of China’s government and

their continuous theft of Intellectual Property.

Although it may seem as dispute just among China and US in the short run, it actually affects every market in Southeast asia, especially

the ASEAN. In an interview with Bloomberg, Singapore’s Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing stated “what global leaders really need

to pay attention to is a larger set of forces that could be at play: the trade war’s long-term impact on global market confidence and structural shifts

in the economy.” and also added “ a protracted trade war will likely result in a loss of confidence in the global economy, instability in the

financial markets and a global slowdown in global economic activity. In the worst-case scenario, compounded blows to the economy could cause

a major breakdown in the WTO system”.

On the very visible side of events, reduced import would mean reduced production in china which would lead reduced economic

circulation in Southeast Asia region. On the less visible side, international investment would reduce in a considerate amount as the investors

investment will not circulate to US that well. Furthermore, economic disruption may easily jump on nearby countries, which may result in

stagnation of economy or slow growth of economy.

ASEAN houses many strong countries and oversees a considerate economic resources. They are also a great place to create dialogue and

take collaborative economic and political decisions. Yet ASEAN does not have the power to directly sanction or legistrate any sovereign state.

They may call for an collabriton on something, but how can ASEAN also must consider political aspect once again. But it can only actually

worth something if the member countries do it as a policy thing. In this trade war the sides are not defined as clear and black and white. Some

members may not want to look through ASEAN point of view or may not want to take part at all. Any statement may also result in angering the

current members of the talk.

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From the data it can be understood that China does a significant amount of exports to US, losing those exports would definitely reduce

China’s production and economic stability. On the other hand, China does not export as much as to US, which might influence China to search

new markets.

Another thing to note about the trade war is the number of counterfeit goods. In one of OECD’s reports it is determined that global trade

in fake goods worth nearly half a trillion dollars a year, and China is the main producer of these goods. Because of the trade war, it is expected

that the number of countrit goods will increase not only in China but also in other Southeast Asia countries.

Thus ASEAN is in a very critical position, stuck between two rocks. As the major actor for future of southeast asia but also collaborating

with many political powers. Any major asean will take will definitely affect the trade war thing.

Key actors in recent issues

1. United States: United States has been a strong actor in global scene for a long time, especially in Pacific. They are currently the source of

Trade War and one of the main competitors for trade dominance in Pacific. US also has influence over other trade areas and ASEAN

actions must consider US response to the actions they take.

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2. World Trade Organization: World Trade Organization (WTO) can be considered as “moderator” of global trade. WTO decides the laws

on IP, competitive market and any other aspect of global trade you can think of. Any country, organization or association must follow the

rules WTO put in effect.

3. ASEAN Trade Partners: ASEAN trade partners like Australia or Japan are not necessarily closest partners to ASEAN, and have strong

political and economic ties to other countries outside ASEAN. You must never forget that hey are an asset to ASEAN and every action

committee takes must consider the agendas and reaction of these trade partners

4. IMF/World Bank: Although not directly involved with any of the issues, they posses a very large sum of economic resources. They are a

great source of funding that may be used if needed.

5. ASEAN Member Countries: As stated several times in the guide, ASEAN does not have the legal status to implement directly or take

economic or any other action. Without member countries acting on decisions they took on ASEAN meeting, ASEAN meetings has no

power.

ASEAN Activities

From it’s very first day ASEAN has been working on three main points. Stabilize the economy, become more competitive, and increase

integration among member countries.The stabilization of economies is the first step for a long-term developing economy. Without stable

economy, new implications cannot be made, economic crises are much more devastating and overall development is impossible. ASEAN

countries is dealing with issue by making contributions together.

To increase competitiveness and market size, ASEAN countries created free trade areas. Free trade areas are a two sided blade, it allows

for produced goods to stay in Asia while circulating the economy, there is less brain/quality drain to western countries and the region becomes

much more alluring to the domestic/foreign investment. It also lessens the government spending by reducing business incentives. However, it

also results in lower tax gain, rapid degradation of natural resources and job outsourcing. Nevertheless, free trade areas are the primal reason for

current economic situation of the area and is very valuable to ASEAN community.

Lastly, integration. Integration has always been an important part of ASEAN economic structure and vision. While not exactly as

European Union, ASEAN has been taking many steps to become EU-like economy. From creating a wide free trade area to Chiang Mai initiative

to blueprinting integration of banking, ASEAN has always prioritized and taken steps to binding their economic resources and burden to drive

ASEAN economy one step ahead. This has resulted in many great economic achievements like talking about rcep that covers this much area to

1997 asian financial crisis miracle. Rcep, their latest plan to be next step in this legacy, if it ratifies it will be a great boost, especially to china and

economic growth, development and most definitely countries individual gdp.

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Task of the committee

In this session of ASEAN most important topic is the ongoing trade war between China and United States. Trade war between these two

trade behemoths will have unseen effects on markets of Pacific, possibly disturb RCEP trade agreement, and slag the economic growth of

ASEAN countries. In this session member states must come up with applicable swift solutions to prevent any short-term problems caused by war,

and reduce effects in long-term. Remember this issue is bigger than ASEAN, and you must consider effects on other trade partners of ASEAN.

Also bear in mind that ASEAN cannot directly make decision for its member states. What measures can ASEAN take to lighten or even end the

trade war among these countries. What kind of economic strategy or plan can ASEAN come with that will reduce the effects of trade war on

Asia?

Second task is to ratify RCEP with fast but sure steps. RCEP will increase economic output of Pacific, create a foundation for more

ambitious proposals but most importantly help with US-China trade war. You must find a way to settle disputes and this this this. What is

preventing the Association and concerned parties from reaching to an unanimous decision? What can be proposed to ensure stability and increase

trust on the new free trade area?

Third task is a more broad one, and not necessarily as urgent as the previous two task. In this session we must never be blinded only by

current events and look forward. As we increase the integration among countries and create a bigger free trade area, ASEAN and participating

countries economy definitely grow, yet this growth brings in issues. Remember that ASEAN is an association that controls a significant amount

of economic resources and provides a great place for dialogue and common action. What are the downsides of increasing free trade in member

countries? What new policies can be adopted to reduce effects of new trade wars or financial crises?

Recommended Reading

ASEAN Project Templates for more insight on how ASEAN works

• https://asean.org/resource/asean-project-templates/

ASEAN Economic Community and ASEAN Statistics for a broader look at economic standings

• https://asean.org/asean-economic-community/

• https://www.aseanstats.org/

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Blueprint of ASEAN Integration for ASEAN integration vision

• https://asean.org/storage/images/2015/November/aec-page/AEC-2015-Progress-and-Key-Achievements.pdf

On a side note, we advise delegates to not build their arguments on data or reports from news agencies that their bias could be questionable.

Bibliography

• "[Press Releases] 24th Round of Negotiations for Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)." October 16, 2018.

https://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/press4e_002189.html.

• Zimmerman, Erin, and Diane Stone. "ASEAN Think Tanks, Policy Change and Economic Cooperation: From the Asian Financial Crisis

to the Global Financial Crisis." Policy and Society 37, no. 2 (2017): 260-75. doi:10.1080/14494035.2017.1397394.

• McNeill, D. and H. Beckman. 1998. "Introduction." World Development 26 (8): 1529-1533. doi:10.1016/S0305-750X(98)00060-6.

http://resolver.scholarsportal.info/resolve/0305750x/v26i0008/1529_i.

• "Industry and Entrepreneurship, Global Trade in Fake Goods worth Nearly Half a Trillion Dollars a Year - OECD & EUIPO."

Estadísticas - OECD. http://www.oecd.org/industry/global-trade-in-fake-goods-worth-nearly-half-a-trillion-dollars-a-year.htm.

• Lincoln, Edward J. "End of the Miracle: Exploring the Asian Financial Crisis." Brookings.edu. July 28, 2016.

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/end-of-the-miracle-exploring-the-asian-financial-crisis/.

• Abbey, Matthew. "Counterfeiters Will Win the Trade War." Foreign Policy. August 10, 2018.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/08/10/counterfeiters-will-win-the-trade-war/.

• "ASEAN's Repeated Warnings on the US-China Trade War." IR INSIDER. October 10, 2018. https://www.irinsider.org/southeast-asia-

oceania-1/2018/10/10/aseans-repeated-warnings-on-the-us-china-trade-war.

• Amadeo, Kimberly. "7 Pros and 7 Cons of Trade Agreements." The Balance Small Business. November 2, 2018.

https://www.thebalance.com/free-trade-agreement-pros-and-cons-3305845.

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• "The Impact of the US-China Trade War on East Asia." Seven Things I Learned about the Transition from Communism | VOX, CEPR

Policy Portal. October 16, 2018. https://voxeu.org/article/impact-us-china-trade-war-east-asia.

• Rapkin, David P. 2001. "The United States, Japan, and the Power to Block: The APEC and AMF Cases." The Pacific Review 14 (3): 373-

410. doi:10.1080/09512740110064820. http://resolver.scholarsportal.info/resolve/09512748/v14i0003/373_tusjatbtaaac.

• Hund, Markus. 2003. "ASEAN Plus Three: Towards a New Age of Pan-East Asian Regionalism? A skeptic’s Appraisal." The Pacific

Review 16 (3): 383-417. doi:10.1080/0951274032000085644.

http://resolver.scholarsportal.info/resolve/09512748/v16i0003/383_apttanparasa.

• Terada, Takashi. 1998. "The Origins of Japan's APEC Policy: Foreign Minister Takeo Miki's Asia‐Pacific Policy and Current

Implications." The Pacific Review 11 (3): 337-363. doi:10.1080/09512749808719261.

http://resolver.scholarsportal.info/resolve/09512748/v11i0003/337_toojapmapaci.

• ASEAN. ASEAN Economic Community. "A Blueprint for Growth." News release. https://asean.org/storage/images/2015/November/aec-

page/AEC-2015-Progress-and-Key-Achievements.pdf.

• Finance, Bloomberg Markets and. "Singapore's Chan on Energy Strategy, Carbon Tax, Trade War." YouTube. October 04, 2018.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_zNA3ssKOo.

• Alatas, Ali. 2001. "ASEAN in a Globalizing World." Asia-Pacific Review 8 (2): 1-9. doi:10.1080/09544120120098645.

http://resolver.scholarsportal.info/resolve/13439006/v08i0002/1_aiagw.

• "The Trade War Is On: How We Got Here and What's Next." Bloomberg.com. September 17, 2018.a

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-18/the-trade-war-is-on-timeline-of-how-we-got-here-and-what-s-next.

• Youn-Suk, K., & Koo, H. K. (1997). Asia-pacific region in changing global economy.Human Systems Management, 16(4), 285-291.

Retrieved from http://myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/login?url=https://search-proquest-

com.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/docview/201083048?accountid=14771

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Topic 3 - Religious Conflicts

Introduction

Religious conflict is a primary concern for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as religious movements are being

created as forms of nationalism devastating communities across the region and costing the lives of thousands of individuals.

(https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Cover-Story/Religious-extremism-poses-threat-to-ASEAN-s-growth2 Religion continues to define most

individual’s sense of self in the region and thus defines their worldview. Although there are strong majority religions within each state, various

faiths remain culturally significant. However, religious discrimination, insurgency, and violence have been long been straining relations between

individuals of different faiths. Demographics vary across the association’s region; there are countries that are dispersed while others are

populated by dominant religious groups. (https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/asean-association-southeast-asian-nations) Many of the conflicts

stem from the struggle for religious freedom amidst the religious and ethnic diversity across and within the member-states of the association,

causing divisions to emerge among members-states. The question remains as to how the association can redefine, build, and secure peaceful

relationships between various clashing religious and ethnic groups.

Definition

1. ASEAN: “In full Association of Southeast Asian Nations, international organisation established by the governments of

Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand in 1967 to accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural

development and to promote peace and security in Southeast Asia. Brunei joined in 1984, followed by Vietnam in 1995, Laos and

Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999.” (https://www.britannica.com/topic/ASEAN)

2. Rohingya Muslim: “Term commonly used to refer to a community of Muslims generally concentrated in Rakhine (Arakan) state in

Myanmar (Burma), although they can also be found in other parts of the country as well as in refugee camps in neighbouring

Bangladesh and other countries.” (https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rohingya)

3. Burmese: Members of the largest ethnic group of Myanmar, located in Southeast Asia

4. Ethnic Cleansing: “A purposeful policy designed by one ethnic or religious group to remove by violent and terror-inspiring means

the civilian population of another ethnic or religious group from certain geographic areas.”

(http://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/ethnic-cleansing.html)

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5. Refugee: People who have fled war, violence, conflict or persecution and have crossed an international border to find safety in

another country. Someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being

persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.”

(https://www.unhcr.org/what-is-a-refugee.html)

6. ISIS: “(Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), also known as ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant), is a Sunni jihadist group with a

particularly violent ideology that calls itself a caliphate and claims religious authority over all Muslims. It was inspired by al

Qaida but later publicly expelled from it.” (https://www.rand.org/topics/the-islamic-state-terrorist-organization.html)

7. Salafism: “Salafism is the idea that the most authentic and true Islam is found in the lived example of the early, righteous

generations of Muslims, known as the Salaf, who were closest in both time and proximity to the Prophet Muhammad.”

(https://www.brookings.edu/blog/markaz/2016/07/15/islamism-salafism-and-jihadism-a-primer/)

8. Wahhabism: “is an Islamic doctrine and religious salafi movement founded by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab.[a] It has been

variously described as "ultraconservative",[1] "austere",[2] "fundamentalist",[3] or "puritan(ical)";[4][5] as an Islamic "reform

movement" to restore "pure monotheistic worship" (tawhid) by devotees;[6] and as a "deviant sectarian movement",[6] "vile sect"[7]

and a distortion of Islam by its opponents.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wahhabism#cite_note-pbs-wahhabism-3)

9. Syariah law: “Sharia law is Islam's legal system. It is derived from both the Koran, Islam's central text, and fatwas - the rulings of

Islamic scholars. Sharia law acts as a code for living that all Muslims should adhere to, including prayers, fasting and donations to

the poor. It aims to help Muslims understand how they should lead every aspect of their lives according to God's wishes.”

(https://www.bbc.com/news/world-27307249)

10. Lhotshampa: “The Lhotshampa are people living in the country of Bhutan who are of Nepalese descent. They are indigenous to

the the southern parts of Bhutan.” (https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/who-are-the-lhotshampa-people.html)

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Historical Background: Muslim Perspective

CASE 1: Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar

The Rohingya Muslims are an ethnicity minority in the state of Myanmar with a population of approximately 800,000 to a million. The

Rohingya population has faced discrimination and violence due to religious conflict between Buddhists and Muslims. [1]

Between 1941 and 1945, the Rakhine state was in alliance with the Japanese; whereas the Muslims were in support of the British as the

Rakhine Buddhists allied with the Japanese. It was not until Myanmar’s independence from the British that Muslim rebellions came about in the

state demanding that they receive equal rights. During this time, in which the military regime under the power of General Ne Win had gained

control in 1962. Ne Win’s government began creating a nationalist identity; one that was based on ethnic and religious majority.[2] The dominant

ethnicity and religion at the time were the Burmese and Buddhist. During this time, the Rohingya Muslims were being labelled as foreigners and

“illegal Bengali immigrants” whom were living in Myanmar because of the past British rule. Violence began to arise when the Burmese military

began campaigning in effort of ethnic cleansing of the Muslims in Rohingya during the 1970s.[3] It was not until 1978 that government

campaigns had forced roughly 200,000 Muslims to the neighboring state of Bangladesh. Tensions rose a decade later when a citizenship law

passed identifying 135 national ethnic groups, excluding the Rohingya. Thus, making them stateless. [4]

The ability to identify illegal immigrants was of priority to begin initiating ethnic cleansing operations. One of the many operations, Operation

Naga Min, was implemented in 1978 in efforts of identifying illegal immigrants or foreigners who posed a threat to Buddhism.[5] During this

time, many Rohingya were victims of rape, arrest, demolishment of religious institutions and villages, and seizure of lands. As a result, nearly a

quarter-of-a-million refugees fled to their neighboring state Bangladesh for several months, only to return to Myanmar a year later.[6] In a second

operation that took place in 1991, Operation Pyi Thaya, was formed in efforts of the same reason as the first operation; to cleanse Rohingya. This

time around, an estimate of two-hundred-thousand refugees escaped to Bangladesh again. However, as many as three-hundred-thousand currently

remain, living in refugee camps without basic survival necessities and medical care. [7]

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[1] https://rlp.hds.harvard.edu/faq/rohingya

[2] https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/10/no-place-islam-buddhist-nationalism-myanmar-2013101710411233906.html

[3] https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/10/no-place-islam-buddhist-nationalism-myanmar-2013101710411233906.html

[4] https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/12/asia/rohingya-crisis-timeline/index.html

[5] https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/10/no-place-islam-buddhist-nationalism-myanmar-2013101710411233906.html

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[6] https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/10/no-place-islam-buddhist-nationalism-myanmar-2013101710411233906.html

[7] https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/10/no-place-islam-buddhist-nationalism-myanmar-2013101710411233906.html

CASE 2: Rise of International Terrorist Organisations

Whilst there is a tendency in the global media to focus on the Middle East and other parts of Europe in covering the rise of organisations

such as ISIS, the issue is equally significant in South East Asia. For instance, in 2017 ISIS affiliated-terrorists took over the Filipino city of

Marawi, and engaged in a conflict with President Duterte’s government that lasted approximately half a year. The battle resulted in over a

thousand casualties, including nearly 200 civilians. Similarly, also in 2017, terrorists located in Indonesia’s Batam Island attempted to launch an

explosive projectile targeting the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore, but were arrested by Indonesian authorities.

The rise of terrorist organisations in South East Asia is a pressing issue because of the region’s diverse religious, ethnic, and cultural

composition. Whilst Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia are muslim-majority states, neighbours such as Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia are

Buddhist majority nations. The Philippines, on the other hand, is a Catholic majority state due to its colonial occupation by the Spanish. The

religious geography of Southeast Asia has had a noticeable impact on the region’s politics and law enforcement. For instance, Brunei currently

implements Sharia law, whilst the legal system in Singapore and Malaysia is based on the British-era Indian Penal Code with the addition of

Syariah courts. In Vietnam and Laos, due to Chinese and Soviet influence, state atheism and consequently varying levels of hostility towards

religion are major factors.

The delicate religious balance of the region has been shaken in recent decades as a result of an influx of Saudi money both in Muslim

majority states such as Malaysia and in areas with Muslim minorities such as the Philippines. As a result, extremist groups subscribing to Salafist

and Wahhabi-influenced ideas have emerged advocating the implementation of extreme versions of Syariah law. Consequently, South East Asia

is at a crossroads. International terrorist organisations have gained a foothold in one of the most diverse regions in the world and it is the

responsibility of ASEAN nations and their partners in the international community to contain and combat the problem.

CASE 3: The Persecution of the Lhotshampa of Bhutan

The himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, a Buddhist theocracy reminiscent of Tibet prior to the overthrow of the Dalai Lama by Mao Zedong’s

People’s Liberation Army in 1951, is the subject of a controversy regarding its treatment of the Lhotshampa people. The Lhotshampa are a

Nepali-speaking, predominantly Hindu, ethnic group that constituted anywhere from 30 to 40 per cent of the nation’s population in the late

1980s. In the 1990s, the government of Bhutan revoked the citizenship of hundreds of thousands of Lhotshampa, rendering them stateless. This is

because in the late 1980s, the Bhutanese elites saw the Nepali population to be a cultural and demographic threat to them.

(https://www.hrw.org/news/2008/02/01/bhutans-ethnic-cleansing)

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Today, many live in refugee camps in Nepal, which refuses them citizenship similarly to how Bangladesh refuses citizenship to Rohingya

refugees, whilst a minority have been resettled in countries such as the United States. The largest portion of the Lhotshampa population live in

India or in the area around the Bhutanese border city of Phuentsholing, which has a semi-open border with the Indian city of Jaigaon.

Considering Bhutan’s strong ties with ASEAN member states, and the stark parallel between the plight of the Lhotshampa and that of the

Rohingya, this is an issue that affects the region.

Current State

Today, Bangladesh refuses to accept an negotiation in accordance to integrating the Rohingya, calling them a burden on society. The state

has refused to improve the state of refugee camps and offer aid. This is due to a high degree of fear that serving them will become an incentive

for refugees to stay and allow others to cross the border. The United Nations General Assembly has requested that Myanmar end its military

campaign against Muslim in the Rakhine state, and has called for the appointment of a UN special envoy.[8] The resolution calls for

governmental action to allow access to aid workers, and to ensure that all the refugees return back with full citizenship rights.[9] The UN

Security Council urged the government to implement measures that comply the UN resolution 2106 (2013). In addition, it urged that the

government ensure safe access to UN and other humanitarian actors.[10] The Council stressed for an investigation into the issue of human rights

abuses and violations to ensure those responsible for the actions pay the price.

Task of the Committee

The task of this committee with regards to the topic of religious conflict is to propose solutions that can be implemented to mitigate

religious conflict in the region. This should include frameworks for collaboration between ASEAN member states and their partners in the

international community to curtail the rise of extremist organisations, in a manner that recognises the intricate connections between their rise in

Asia and their rise in the world at large. Furthermore, this should include clear guidelines for Asian states in dealing with the disputes that arise

between religious communities, particularly those involving disputes over the rights of minority groups to live in their countries of residence. In

dealing with the latter, delegates should consider seriously the implications of statelessness for communities such as the Rohingya and the

Lhotshampa, and aim at the reduction of statelessness in Asia. Addressing the former, delegates should focus on increasing collaboration within

the region and with partners in the international community to combat self-radicalisation, shut down Saudi and Qatari-backed efforts to radicalise

Asian youth, and pre-empt attacks by terrorist organisations. Resolutions should include mechanisms for co-operation between jurisdictions to

prevent cross-border co-ordination by terrorist cells, as well as pragmatic solutions to the resettlement of refugees and internally displaced

people created as a result of religious conflict. Collaboration with countries in the Middle East and elsewhere in Europe affected by groups such

as ISIS should also be addressed, as should the permissibility of acts such as the expulsion of the Rohingya and Lhotshampa and whether they

constitute ethnic cleansing.

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Bibliography

[1] https://rlp.hds.harvard.edu/faq/rohingya

[2] https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/10/no-place-islam-buddhist-nationalism-myanmar-2013101710411233906.html

[3] https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/10/no-place-islam-buddhist-nationalism-myanmar-2013101710411233906.html

[4] https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/12/asia/rohingya-crisis-timeline/index.html

[5] https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/10/no-place-islam-buddhist-nationalism-myanmar-2013101710411233906.html

[6] https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/10/no-place-islam-buddhist-nationalism-myanmar-2013101710411233906.html

[7] https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/10/no-place-islam-buddhist-nationalism-myanmar-2013101710411233906.html

[8] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/24/china-russia-oppose-un-resolution-myanmar-rohingya-muslims

[9] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/24/china-russia-oppose-un-resolution-myanmar-rohingya-muslims

[10] https://news.un.org/en/story/2017/11/570082-un-security-council-calls-myanmar-end-excessive-military-force-rakhine-state

[11] https://www.cfr.org/expert-brief/rise-islamist-groups-malaysia-and-indonesia

[12] https://www.forbes.com/sites/ralphjennings/2017/07/11/sulu-sea-to-sulawesi-these-are-the-5-big-hotspots-for-isis-in-asia/#297a08564b23

[13] https://www.forbes.com/sites/ralphjennings/2016/07/06/malaysia-a-center-of-moderate-islam-braces-for-more-isis-attacks/#5eee2f963f15

[14] https://www.forbes.com/sites/ralphjennings/2016/07/06/malaysia-a-center-of-moderate-islam-braces-for-more-isis-attacks/#5eee2f963f15

[15] http://cco.ndu.edu/PRISM-7-1/Article/1299567/isil-radicalization-recruitment-and-social-media-operations-in-indonesia-malays/

[16] http://www.mei.edu/content/map/malaysias-islamic-state-dilemma

[17] https://www.counterextremism.com/countries/malaysia

[18] https://www.counterextremism.com/countries/malaysia

[19] https://www.counterextremism.com/countries/malaysia

[20] https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/10/happened-marawi-171029085314348.html

[21] https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/10/happened-marawi-171029085314348.html