Management and Resolution of Inter-State Conflicts in Southeast Asia

In the third chapter, Pushpa Thambipillai claims that inter state relations are characterised by conflict and co-operation. Conflict is inevitable in the international system as states compete over resources and values, including power and dominance. Nevertheless, coexistence is assured as long as states realise the boundaries of their interactions and do not resort to violence. Disputes, disagreements and irritants are ever present but not all such cases result in negative actions. Mechanisms at the bilateral or multilateral levels provide avenues for conflict resolution. She claims that conflicts can be prevented, minimised, transformed, or resolved through bilateral negotiations, bargaining between the parties concerned or through third party intervention. There are also roles for conflict management at the global and regional levels. One of the strategies is amongst states within a region where political and economic co-operation can provide the structure and procedure for consultation to sort out conflict prone issues. The paper concludes that if regional co-operation is recognised as an important process, then it will enhance various sources for inter state consultations, thus avoiding violent conflicts.

The fourth paper by De Castro explores the problems associated with securitising contemporary non-traditional security challenges such as migration, transnational crime, terrorism, and environmental degradation, using the Philippines experience as an example. It discusses the intellectual development of the notion of non-traditional security challenges and situates this idea within the overall conceptual map of strategic studies. It examines how these non-traditional security challenges affect Philippine society and how they infringe on the government’s relations with a number of states. This paper analyses the difficulty of securitising these security challenges despite their negative effects on Philippine society and the country’s bilateral ties. De Castro concludes with a call for a review of the current approach in analysing these non-traditional security challenges and the need for a paradigm shift in Strategic Studies.

The fifth paper by Aileen Baviera looks at the dispute in the South China Sea involving six countries in the region. She claims that multiple dimensions and layers of interests are at stake, including sovereignty, territorial integrity, security from external threats, access to economic resources, and protection of the marine environment. Baviera defines the nature of the disputes and the potential conflict, explores the underlying causes as well as consequences for the parties concerned and for the region, and examines the ways by which the conflict is being addressed by the claimants, as well as by ASEAN and other regional cooperative mechanisms. The paper then locates the present situation and the various conflict management initiatives in relation to a possible process of conflict transformation, and also identifies possible areas for future meaningful intervention. Lastly, Baviera stresses that the purpose of the paper is to explore how the concept of conflict transformation may be applied to future studies and policy initiatives on this issue.

The sixth chapter by Baladas Ghoshal also looks at the South China Sea dispute and ASEAN’s approach to this problem. The paper examines the effectiveness of this approach in dealing with the irredentist claims of China, the central player in the dispute, and to evaluate the prospect of easing of tension in the region within its current policy framework. Ghoshal argues that there is not one ASEAN approach to the South China Sea dispute, even though they may all be subscribing to the idea of confidence building and the engagement of China to contain the dispute and manage conflicts in the region. Ghoshal also argues that ASEAN’s policy of engagement of China and its ‘soft’ and accommodative approach towards the South China Sea issue has brought only temporary benefits in terms of only shelving the conflict. This is because this approach has not been very effective in managing the latter or restraining it from escalating the conflict level in the Spratlys. Ghoshal claims that the way of managing China is not through a display of ASEAN’s own weaknesses and accommodation of the former’s vital interests in South China Sea but only through a firm and united stand.

The seventh chapter is by Ramses Amer who writes on the topic conflict management within the ASEAN, and especially looking at the High Council as a potential mechanism for conflict resolution in the region. He stresses that the purpose of his study is to analyse the conflict management dimension of the regional collaboration in the Southeast Asian region within the framework of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). He surveys the mechanisms for conflict management adopted by ASEAN through its main governing treaties and declarations, especially the adoption of the “Rules of the Procedure of the High Council of the Treaty of Amity and Co-operation in Southeast Asia”. The adoption of these rules of procedure is assessed and their possible implications are analysed. He then goes on to analyse and assess the relevance and impact of the ASEAN’s framework for conflict management through an overview of how the border disputes among the member-states of ASEAN have been managed. This is followed by an assessment of the adoption of the rules of procedure of the High Council and of the possible implication of these rules. Finally, Amer looks at the ASEAN’s conflict management mechanisms in relation to non-Southeast Asian countries with a focus on the situation in the South China Sea.The eighth paper, by Hadiwinata attempts to address environmental problems as one of the important elements of non-traditional security issues. By looking at the Southeast Asian context, Hadiwinata discusses environmental security as a potential driver for inter-state tensions and conflicts in the region. He argues that although environmental problems may not directly raise security threats to Southeast Asian states, in the long run they may have the potential to generate tensions and conflicts. In Southeast Asia, a rapid rate of deforestation, population pressure, food and energy scarcity, and cross-border river management problems appear to be the most striking examples that can raise national security concerns. Collective measures in settling these problems at the ASEAN level and beyond seem to be a major challenge for most Southeast Asian countries. Lastly, Hadiwinata concludes that in the near future, the preservation of land and sea areas in a sustainable way may become a conflict prevention agenda.

The paper by Nathan looks at the historical foundations, key determinants and political economy of Malaysia-Singapore relations. It also evaluates the significance of major issues in bilateral relations in recent times. He claims that all the issues suggest that the bilateral relationship between the two countries is characterised by functional tension and co-operation. Nathan asserts that the best methodological approach to analysing the progress of bilateral ties is offered by political realism which emphasises self help and prioritises national political, economic and security interests as the goals of foreign policy. The paper also takes note of the increasing bilateral competition in the provision of infrastructure services with the onset of globalisation, as well as the convergence of security perceptions issuing from the impact of the September 11 event. Finally, Nathan considers the attempts made by the leaderships of both countries to resolve these issues; strategies and mechanisms contemplated, and concludes with some observations regarding the challenges and prospects that lie ahead.