Petaling Jaya, 13 June 2023 - On 7th and 8th June 2023, His Excellency Joko Widodo, the President of Indonesia, conducted a working visit to Malaysia. During the visit, President Jokowi had met with Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, where both states had exchanged bilateral cooperation instruments that outlined significant bilateral issues.
One of the significant bilateral issues presented was the palm oil ban by the European Union which had impacted both Malaysia and Indonesia, as the biggest global producer of palm oil. The move, which had caused both states to suffer millions in revenue, was made merely on the bad perception that our palm oil industry does not meet the environmental and human rights standards. To minimise the impact of European economic sanctions against both states, Malaysia and Indonesia need to join hands, to not only tackle this issue, but expand their palm oil production and ensure sustainable profit for both states. Apart from having a meeting with the European Union counterparts to increase compliance, other areas include strengthening sustainability, and Environmental, Social and Governmental (ESG) efforts in the palm oil industry to showcase our commitment in becoming not just environmentally cautious, but also more humane.
Through the official statement made by Wisma Putra, both the Prime Minister and President had exchanged views on contemporary global and regional issues, especially in regards to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The regional organisation had faced intense backlash for its dysfunctional role in the Southeast Asia region in tackling important issues such as the territorial dispute in South China Sea and Myanmar political crisis. ASEAN which upholds the principle of non-interference should not be to the extent of hindering progress. In order to increase the efficacy of executing its functions as a regional organisation, we urge ASEAN member states to play a more proactive role rather than passive ones. We as an organisation should confront those issues rather than sweeping it under the rug. We would like to suggest both Indonesia and Malaysia to step up their role in ASEAN by becoming active and functional member states. This will allow both states to become the big brothers who showcase good examples and set a precedent on how ASEAN member states should act.
Apart from that, with the increasing tension between major powers in the international community, history may repeat itself again as the global world begins to divide itself into the bipolar system. With that being said, potentially a Cold War might occur again as it did between the US and the Soviet Union (USSR), in 1947 to 1991. However today, China had come into the picture as a rising superpower who had forged an ally with Russia to challenge the US hegemony. Subsequently, many states had joined alliances with either bloc in hopes of gaining more benefit or influence. Picking sides is a double edged sword move, as it seals our fate and causes tension with the opposing bloc.
Both the US and China have been aiming for India, as a strategy to further expand their influence in the Asian region. In order for China to increase its influence, the state had executed the ‘Necklace of Diamonds’ strategy to pressure and prevent India from joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Plus and becoming pro-US. The geopolitical strategy puts a belt around India by choke holding the states around it through various measures such as economic partnership, forming industrial corridors and the Debt Trap policy. This will constrain and limit India’s foreign policy as its neighbouring states are bound to China.
On the other hand, the US is equally interested in India as well. As for now, there are no official decisions on India joining the NATO Plus. However, India’s alignment on either bloc will lead to a drastic political shift in Asia, as it will drag other Asian states into the conflict as well. Due to India’s influential position in the Asian region, the US and NATO have been interested in India joining their bloc. Previously, NATO was merely focusing on the Global North until they realised how important India is. Meanwhile the US, ever since Trump’s and Biden’s administration, the US-ASEAN relations have weakened as compared to during Obama’s administration through his Pivot to Asia policy. Soon, the US will also realise that being backed merely by the western powers is not sufficient as they need Asia to increase their influence as well. Therefore, it is no surprise that today, both the US and NATO saw how important India’s position is to penetrate ASEAN. India could be the key for the US to lobby ASEAN into inclining towards their bloc.
With that being said, it is absolutely unnecessary for ASEAN to join any alliances nor be pro-either bloc as it will only pull ASEAN into the bipolar system. Thus, increasing the likelihood of the Cold War. ASEAN should remain, reinforce and strengthen its non-alignment policy. In fact, ASEAN should stand as a solid regional organisation without being influenced by any foreign superpower who only cares about their personal agenda. Again, picking sides will only drag ASEAN into the US-China conflict which is unprofitable. To ensure that ASEAN is in a neutral position, both Malaysia and Indonesia must maintain a neutral position first. When both states have adopted and practised the principle of neutrality as their foreign policy, then only can they preach around ASEAN on the importance of non-alignment policy.
We Malaysians hope that President Jokowi experiences a productive visit with our Malaysian government that shall benefit both states’ national interest through economic expansion, regional cooperation and ASEAN’s position. We will be anticipating both Malaysia and Indonesia to steer the direction of ASEAN towards a clear goal of addressing crucial issues in the Southeast Asia region. With the unstable position of the global community, ASEAN needs to strategize our plan decades ahead to protect the well-being of all member states. Our position in the global community could either protect us from the unstable bipolar system, or drag us into the conflict.
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