ASEAN Fact Sheet 2019

FACTSHEET

ASEAN POLITICAL-SECURITY COMMUNITY (APSC)

one vision
one identity
one community

ASEAN POLITICAL-SECURITY COMMUNITY Preserving regional peace and stability, of togetherness, common identity and
adopting a comprehensive approach to destiny;
security challenges and developing friendly
and mutually beneficial relations with external (ii) A resilient community in a peaceful, secure
and other partners have been the underlying and stable region, with enhanced capacity
principles of ASEAN’s approach to political and to respond effectively and in a timely
security issues and developments. manner to challenges for the common
good of ASEAN, in accordance with the
Serving as the bedrock for peace and stability in principle of comprehensive security;
Southeast Asia are ASEAN political instruments
such as the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (iii) An outward-looking community that
in Southeast Asia (TAC), which is a key code of deepens cooperation with our external
conduct governing inter-state relations in the parties, upholds and strengthens ASEAN
region; the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear centrality in the evolving regional
Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) which advocates architecture, and plays a responsible and
for a region free of nuclear weapons; and the constructive role globally based on an
Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South ASEAN common platform on international
China Sea (DOC) and the on-going negotiations issues; and
on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea
(COC) which promotes peaceful settlement of (iv) A community with strengthened
disputes and practical maritime cooperation in institutional capacity through improved
the South China Sea. ASEAN work processes and coordination,
increased effectiveness and efficiency in
Seven years of implementation of the APSC the work of all ASEAN Organs, including a
Blueprint (2009-2015) has cemented the strengthened ASEAN Secretariat, as well
foundation of the APSC by deepening and as with increased ASEAN institutional
expanding ASEAN political and security presence at the national, regional and
cooperation and strengthening ASEAN capacity international levels.
in responding to regional and international
challenges. Building upon these achievements, To build a rules-based, people-oriented, people-
the APSC Blueprint 2025 aims to elevate ASEAN centred community, the APSC has consistently
political-security cooperation to a even higher promoted cooperation in political development
level in line with the ASEAN Community Vision that adheres to the principles of democracy,
2025. the rule of law and good governance as well as
respect for, promotion and protection of human
The APSC has the following key characteristics: rights and fundamental freedoms.

(i) A rules-based, people-oriented, people- Human rights continues to be mainstreamed
centred community bound by fundamental across the three pillars of ASEAN with ASEAN
principles, shared values and norms, in Intergovernmental Commission on Human
which our peoples enjoy human rights, Rights (AICHR) at the forefront, ensuring the
fundamental freedoms and social justice, implementation of the ASEAN Human Rights
embrace the values of tolerance and Declaration. AICHR’s work has expanded, from
moderation, and share a strong sense promoting a human rights-based approach in
cross-sectoral areas, such as trafficking in persons,

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The Bangkok Declaration of 8 August 1967 The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) remains an
that established ASEAN declared, among important ASEAN-led mechanism for promoting
others, the following aims and purposes security cooperation in the wider Asia-
upon which ASEAN political and security Pacific region. The ARF continues to develop
cooperation is anchored on, namely: confidence-building measures by exploring
To accelerate the economic growth, cooperation on emerging security issues, while
furthering its primary commitment to promoting
social progress and cultural development preventive diplomacy that contributes to
in the region through joint endeavours in regional peace and security. The scope of
the spirit of equality and partnership in issues addressed includes current and emerging
order to strengthen the foundation for a non-traditional security threats, such as nuclear
prosperous and peaceful community of non-proliferation; countering terrorism, violent
Southeast Asia; and extremism, and other transnational crimes;
To promote regional peace and stability cybersecurity; maritime safety and security;
through abiding respect for justice and marine environment protection; climate change;
the rule of law in the relationship among and disaster relief and urban emergency
regional countries and adherence to the rescue.
principles of the United Nations Charter.

It is envisaged that the ASEAN Political-Security ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacificreaffirms
Community by 2025 shall be a united, inclusive ASEAN Centrality; openness, transparency,
and resilient community where the ASEAN inclusivity; a rules-based framework; good
peoples shall live in a safe, harmonious and governance; respect for sovereignty; non-
secure environment, embrace the values of intervention; complementarity with existing
tolerance and moderation as well as uphold cooperation frameworks; equality; mutual
ASEAN fundamental principles, shared values respect, trust, and benefit; and respect for
and norms. It is further envisaged that ASEAN international law as its guiding principles in
shall remain cohesive, responsive and relevant undertaking Indo-Pacific cooperation. Four
in addressing challenges to regional peace priority areas of cooperation were identified:
and security as well as play a central role in maritime cooperation, connectivity, realising
shaping the evolving regional architecture, the UN sustainable development goals
while deepening our engagement with external 2030, fostering economic cooperation and
parties and contributing collectively to global other areas of cooperation.
peace, security and stability.

promoting safe drinking water, and sanitation, trafficking, terrorism, trafficking in persons,
and by embarking on civil rights advocacy with people smuggling, cybercrime, cybersecurity,
regard to freedom of expression, prevention of illicit trafficking of wildlife and timber, disaster
torture, and access to justice. relief and pandemics, among others.

In building a peaceful, secure and stable region, ASEAN remains committed to strengthening,
ASEAN adopts a comprehensive approach consolidating and optimizing defense
to security which enhances our capacity to cooperation to contribute to sustainable security.
deal with existing and emerging challenges. It Possible future contributions include border
pursues peaceful settlement of disputes and management and countering illegal, unregulated
renounces aggression and the threat or use of and unreported fishing.
force or other actions in any manner inconsistent
with international law. Relevant bodies in the Complementing efforts to promote an
APSC continue to work in addressing non- environment where ASEAN’s diverse peoples
traditional security challenges including drug live peacefully and realise socio-economic
progress are ASEAN’s external partners. ASEAN’s

3ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC)

dialogue partners, sectoral dialogue partners, Leaders during the 34th ASEAN Summit in June
development partners and other external parties 2019.
are all contributing to realizing the ASEAN
Community Vision 2025. Moving forward, ASEAN through APSC, will
further strengthen cooperation and advance
Advanced regional cooperation has also partnerships to ensure sustainability in all
strengthened ASEAN Centrality. The organization dimensions for ASEAN amidst the rapid changes
has articulated the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo- in Southeast Asia and beyond.
Pacific (AOIP), which was adopted by the ASEAN



The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on 8 August 1967. The Member States of the Association are Brunei
Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.
The ASEAN Secretariat is based in Jakarta, Indonesia.

For inquiries, contact:
The ASEAN Secretariat
Community Relations Division (CRD)
70A Jalan Sisingamangaraja
Jakarta 12110, Indonesia
Phone : (62 21) 724-3372, 726-2991
Fax : (62 21) 739-8234, 724-3504
E-mail : [email protected]

Catalogue-in-Publication Data

Fact Sheet of ASEAN Political-Security Community
Jakarta: ASEAN Secretariat, December 2019

352.1159
1. ASEAN - People - Community
2. Political Security - Economic - Socio - Cultural

ASEAN: A Community of Opportunities for All

The text of this publication may be freely quoted or reprinted, provided proper acknowledgement is given and a copy containing the
reprinted material is sent to the Community Relations Division (CRD) of the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta.

General information on ASEAN appears online at the ASEAN Website: www.asean.org

Photo credits : ASEAN Secretariat

Copyright Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2019.
All rights reserved.

www.asean.org @asean asean @asean the-asean-secretariat

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