Cambodia, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Laos

Angkor Wat Cambodia

Singapore

Manila, the Philippines

Twins Tower, KL, Malaysia 

Bangkok, Thailand

Vientiane, Laos  

Intergovernmental Organizations Vs. Nongovernmental Organizations

Intergovernmental Organizations Vs. Nongovernmental Organizations

After the period of colonialism, many counties became nation-states with clear demarcated borders. The states have been modernized by internal and external factors. Moreover, trade across the border and continents has been increased significantly. Therefore, the world has been complexly interdependent. While states are independent states and interdependent on each other, many issues have been occurred, however. Many types of organizations, such as Intergovernmental Organizations and Nongovernmental Organization, have been created to respond to those problems. Since Intergovernmental Organizations and Nongovernmental Organization have played key role in national and international system, they have a similarity and two differences. 

Intergovernmental Organizations and Nongovernmental Organizations have a commonly similarity. IGOs and NGOs greatly rely on states’ finance and supports, especially superpowers’. The states determine actions and fates of IGOs. United Nations, for example, can stand only if states contribute finance. Moreover, without supports from states, IGOs are never effective.

For instance, League of Nations failed because the United States did not join. Similarly, NGOs can work with the finance provided. In addition, like IGOs, NGOs cannot exist if states do not allow them to be in their countries. For example, communist countries do not allow some NGOs, which work for political purposes.  Clearly, both IGOs and NGOs heavily depend on states for economical and physical supports.

Despite the similarity above, there are two significant differences between Intergovernmental Organizations and Nongovernmental Organization. The first difference of the two organizations is their formers. Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) are formed by states. States come together to form an organization, and they establish a structure based on a formal instrument of agreement. For instance, ASEAN was basically formed when the ten nations in Southeast Asia joined. However, Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) are generally private, voluntary organizations whose members are individuals or a group of people. Usually, NGOs are created to solve specific issue. One of many is Mother Nature Cambodia. It is a non-profit organization, which is a Cambodian movement of environmental activists, fighting for the protection of the Areng valley and the Cardamom mountains, according to Mother Nature Cambodia’s official Facebook page. The second difference is legality. Since IGOs are formed by states, they are always legal. IGOs can be established only if they follow and get recognition from international laws and other states.  However, some NGOs are illegal organizations. When a group of people finds something in common, they form an organization. An example concludes terrorism organizations, such as the ISIS, IS, and Al Qaeda.  They are formed, by Islamic people, in order to instill fears to people and act against governments. In short, the two differences, namely their formers and legality, differ the IGOs and NGOs. 

To summarize, although Intergovernmental Organizations and Nongovernmental Organization have a similarity, there are two differences between them. The source of finance and support for them is from states; therefore, without states’, the two organizations cannot exist. However, for the differences, while IGOs are created by stats join together and while IGOs are always legal, NGOs are formed by common people, and some are illegal. To be more effective to solve problems occurring in the world, it is recommended that IGOs and NGOs work closely and have a connection with each other. 

The U.S-Vietnam Relations

The U.S-Vietnam Relations

I. Introduction

1.1 Background of Information 

During the Cold War, the U.S. and Vietnam relations were extremely tough which resulted in Second Indochina War. Vietnam was influenced by two major different ideologies, which the North by communism and the South by democracy.  Because the U.S was afraid that communism would overspread throughout Vietnam which also possibly to the rest of the region Southeast Asia, according to Domino theory, the U.S., using its containments, involved in Vietnam internal affairs by supporting the South against the communist North in 1954 (Nick and Michael, 2011). Their relations broke up since then, and even still after the war, until 1995 when the United States announced the formal normalization of diplomatic relations with Vietnam.

1.2 Main Research Question: 

What are reasons for US and VN renormalization of relation from 1995 until now?

1.3 Sub-Research Questions:

1. Was the reason of the renormalization of their relations economic purposes?

2. Was the renormalization because of their defense and security?

3. Was the normalization for their political and social cooperation?

    1.5      Scope and Limitation: 

This research paper is limited to investigate only three factors of U.S.-Vietnam renormalization of their relations from 1995 until 2015.

    1.6     Significance: 

The paper is to contribute some basic understandings about U.S.-Vietnam relations during the cold war as well as in New Era. More importantly, this paper aims to discover main reasons why the U.S and Vietnam renormalized their relations from 1995.  Furthermore, it partly talk about implications from the new U.S.-VN relations on the region Southeast Asia in terms of politics and economies, especially the issues in the South China Sea Disputes.

II. Body 

2.1 Economic Purposes

Vietnam War was the bitter legacy of Vietnamese people and the United States. Therefore, the diplomat relations between the two countries became frozen after communist Vietnam gained victory in South Vietnam. The absence of diplomatic relations did not provide any benefit to both states; thus, in 1995 they renormalized their diplomat relations, which mainly focus on economic integrations. The U.S desires to rebalance to Asia-Pacific, mainly with China economic development. The geographical strategic of Vietnam, moreover, is the core interesting part of this restoration. It is also the midpoint connecting Northeast and Southeast Asia, Vietnam has a 2,000 miles coastline facing the South China Sea, where 90 million people live which increasingly vibrant the economic development. (MURRAY HIEBERT,PHUONGNGUYEN, AND GREGORY B. POLIN, 2014). As the result, in 2001, the U.S. and Vietnam signed bilateral trade agreement that was a good signal for both countries' economy (HANOI.VEITNAM, 2015). More importantly, in 2013, Vietnam and the U.S became bilateral comprehensive partnership after meeting in Washington between U.S. President Barack Obama and Vietnams President Truong Tan Sang (Vuving, 2015)

The bilateral economic relation has brought Vietnam economic and the U.S. have become more prosperous and more integration. Through this bilateral, the most beneficial of Vietnam economic is the expansion of products to American market by normal trade relation status, which allows exporters to access to the massive the U.S market on the competitive basic with tariff reduction on most import from Vietnam (Le, 2013). For the U.S side, the normal trade relation status gave great opportunities to extend U.S. investment and tariff reduction from most imports from Vietnam, and allowed US to become the third largest trading partner of Vietnam (Le, 2013).  Under this economic relation, Vietnam's ability of export will greatly increase and the number of foreign direct investment (FDI) will grow dramatically (USA international Business Publications, 2008). Particularly, in 2007, the total two-way trade in goods between US and Vietnam was $12.53 billion, an increase of 29 percent from 2006 that also reflects a 73 percent increase in US export to Vietnam (Vietnam, 2008). By 2013, total US investment has 651 valid projects with total investment of US $10.4 billion Additionally,  2013, Vietnam's exports to the U.S. market reached $24.6 billion, 22 percent higher than the previous year and nearly 10 times higher than 2002 (MURRAY HIEBERT,PHUONGNGUYEN, AND GREGORY B. POLIN, 2014). The outcome of increasing FDI has attracted more U.S. industries, companies, and individuals to invest there. It has created million job opportunities, improving the standard of living of Vietnamese people and developing its infrastructure. According to World Bank statistic, GDP per capita of Vietnam keeps growing constantly since 1984 until present. Notably, GDP per capita in Vietnam was reached to 1077.91 US Dollars in 2014 (Economics). Additionally, Vietnam will bind its textile and apparel tariffs at 7 percent for yarn, 12 percent for fabric, and 20 percent for apparel (International Business Publication, 2008). Another crucial benefit to Vietnam, it is a bridge to join World Trade Organization. Thus, Vietnam has more opportunities in global economic integration (Le, 2013). The removal of tariff barriers and quotas allowed this country to access its products to the world market, and allowed Vietnam enjoy the latest technological advances for national modernization and industrialization (Dan, 2005). As the result of this agreement, Vietnam has joined in international institution such as Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership, ASEAN, and APEC that gave a huge incentive to Vietnam related to tariff barriers (Le, 2013). The outcome of this relation demonstrated that both countries has enjoyed their economic prosperity which it absent for long time ago.

2.2 Defense and Security 

The relations between China and Vietnam have been strained throughout history. Therefore, tensions between China and Vietnam, specifically in South China Sea, and significant power raising of China contribute to a better relationship between the U.S. and Vietnam as Balance-of-power theory suggesting that having allies and improving own capability are what states, particularly small ones, have to do for their own security.  For Vietnam, it is very critical to have U.S as an ally for its defense and security. Geographically, what-so called Sandwich location, Vietnam is located next to China on the south and China’s close ally, Cambodia, on the west, so it is quite dangerous for Vietnam as a less developed country having such enemy, China, as a powerful state. As a result, it is the best and only way, can be done, for Vietnam to have supports in terms of strategic partnerships, aids, military, assistance and training from the superpower U.S. An example of their relations concludes the annual high-level security meetings in Washington which specified the Political, Security, and Defense Dialogue and the Defense Policy Dialogue (Carl, November 2013). Moreover, the U.S and Vietnam are holding more or less the same idea “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” For the United States, it intends prevent the influence of China. The U.S is afraid that the entire Southeast Asia will fall under the power of China; therefore, having as many allies as possible in Southeast Asia is utmost for the U.S. Although diplomatically the U.S. says its involvements in Southeast Asia including Vietnam are non-zero-sum game, not to complete with China, reality shows clearly it tries to prevent the China’s dominance on the region (Munir Majid, n.d). Vietnam’s location is also part of interest for the U.S. Since Vietnam lies on the rest of the east from China to south, the coasts and maritime can be beneficial for U.S military bases if something really goes wrong between U.S and China. According to the RAND Cooperation, the China raising and the perspectives of Southeast Asian states toward China are a shaper of the region future and the U.S. Military posture in the region ( Richard, Angel, C. Richard). Clearly, the renormalization of U.S. and V.N relations can be inferred from their defense and security. 

2.3 Political and Social Cooperation 

Political and Social cooperation are also another reason for their relation normalization. They both tend make the social improvements, for they think it is the only way by restoring their relations. For instance,  in July 2013, the U.S. provided assistance on cooperation including political and diplomatic relations, trade, environment, health, education and so on and that was to response the investigating prison of wars/missing in action (POW/MIA) from Vietnam since August 2011 (Diplomacy in Action, 2015). With this kind of cooperation, Vietnam can earn many benefits from the U.S ranging from human resource training to nuclear energy agreement. An example concludes an agreement on civilian nuclear energy cooperation which has entered into force. Moreover, the agreement established the terms for commercial nuclear trade, research and technology exchanges between the U.S and Vietnam (NEI, October 2014). In 21th century, moreover, despite the differences of political system, the two countries open diplomacy through reaching an agreement called strategic partnership in 2013 that Vietnamese President Truong Tan talked to US President Barack Obama about respecting for its political system, sovereignty and territorial integrity whereas they always had a desire to turn its politics to “peaceful evolution”. These were also development and dignity among all peoples. In turn, the United States always concerns about human rights that is why it rebuilt the relationship, for the U.S can improve human rights and promote democratic government within Vietnam. The agendas of the U.S. also include improving human rights, and due to the fact that Vietnam needs supports from US as investers and trade, Vietnam, as a result, more or less has to respect its own people’ rights. On top of that, the U.S. will be able to have opportunities to further spread democratization and protection of human rights in Vietnam. In short, renormalizing their relations, both countries see they can improve the political and social sector.

III. Conclusion

To sum up, although the history relation of these countries was bitter with each other during the Vietnam War period, eventually, they still can find a peaceful means to restore their relation in order to find mutual benefits from this relation. Normalization diplomatic in 1995 between the United States and Vietnam is the brilliant strategic and remarkable world record of both states that allows them to enjoy their economic prosperity through bilateral economic tie that upgrade the investment environment in both countries jump up significantly, especially when they  became the comprehensive strategic partnership. From security and defense perspective, we can see that this relation has strengthened the capability of Vietnam stronger in both mainland and maritime security, particularly the capability toward China in South China dispute, which is the controversial issue in Southeast Asia, and it vastly threats Vietnam security. Moreover, the normalization also bring the US to expanse it power in Asia-Pacific in order to prevent the influence of China in this regional. The last benefit of this relation is political and social view. Due to the U.S. sees that they can improve on social and political cooperation, mainly human rights and democratization in Vietnam, they think the only way to deal is to restore their relations. For Vietnam perspective, the normalization is the part to improve its social welfare such as education, health, and technological advance. 

References 

Nick Knight and Michael Geazle, 2011, Understanding  Australia’s Neighbour, Second

           Edition: page 126 – 129

Dan, N. (2005, September 12). Vietnam's joining WTO. Retrieved from http://www.mof.gov.vn/portal/pls/portal/SHARED_APP.UTILS.print_preview?p_page_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mof.gov.vn%2Fportal%2Fpage%2Fportal%2Fmof_en%2Fdn&p_itemid=2738706&p_siteid=53&p_persid=0&p_language=en.

Economics, T. (n.d.). Vietnam GDP per capita. Retrieved from http://www.tradingeconomics.com/vietnam/gdp-per-capita.

HANOI.VEITNAM, E. O. (2015, February 11). U.S.-VEITNAM RELATION. Retrieved from http://vietnam.usembassy.gov/usvnrelations.html.

International Business Publication, U. W.-V. (2008). US-Vietnam Economic and Political Relations Handbook. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.kh/books?id=F1Bs0PMwWn8C&pg=PA91&lpg=PA91&dq=economic+benefit+of+US+and+Vietnam+relation&source=bl&ots=HxahVJv2dZ&sig=1v_AbjYllJQWG1zn7yFbgVvAv3s&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=economic%20benefit%20of%20US%20and%20Vietnam%20re.

Le, M. T. (2013). The increased US-Vietnam economic trade relations improve the diplomatic and political relations between two countries since diplomatic normalization 1995. Retrieved from http://researcharchive.vuw.ac.nz/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10063/3295/thesis.pdf?sequence=2.

MURRAY HIEBERT,PHUONGNGUYEN, AND GREGORY B. POLIN. (2014, June). A New Era in U.S.-Veitnam Relations. Retrieved from http://csis.org/files/publication/140609_Hiebert_USVietnamRelations_Web.pdf.

USA international Business Publications. (2008, 5th edition ). Veitnam Recent Economic and Politic Development Yearbook. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.kh/books?id=wPzBPAqMei4C&pg=PA228&lpg=PA228&dq=economic+benefit+of+US+and+Vietnam+relation&source=bl&ots=t2IpocEeZI&sig=gMTcxZzgUQXhaXh3D1OQzt6hoCM&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=economic%20benefit%20of%20US%20and%20Vietnam%20.

Vietnam, E. o. (2008, June). US-Vietnam cooperation on Economic Development, Trade and investment fact sheet. Retrieved from http://vietnam.usembassy.gov/cooperationfactsheet.html.

Vuving, A. L. (2015, April 10). A Breakthrough in US-Veitnam Relations. Retrieved from http://thediplomat.com/2015/04/a-breakthrough-in-us-vietnam-relations/.

Carl Thayer (November 06, 2013) Vietnam Gradually Warms Up to US Military,

           Received from http://thediplomat.com/2013/11/vietnam-gradually-warms-up-to-us-military/ 

Munir Majid, Southeast Asia Between China and the United States, page 8 and 9. Received 

from: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.lse.ac.uk/IDEAS/publications/reports/pdf/SR015/SR015Majid-China-vs-US.pdf

Richard Sokolsky, Angel Rabasa and C. Richard Neu, The Role of Southeast Asia in U.S. 

Strategy Toward China received from http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1170.html

Nuclear Energy Institute NEI, US-Vietnam Nuclear Cooperation Agreement Becomes Effective.

Received from: http://www.nei.org/News-Media/Media-Room/News-Releases/US-Vietnam-Nuclear-Cooperation-Agreement-Becomes-E

US Department of States, Diplomacy in Actions 2015, 

Receieved from http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/4130.htm 

Carl Thayer, 2015: 8 Developments in US-Vietnam Relations Show Emerging Partnership

http://thediplomat.com/2015/07/8-developments-in-us-vietnam-relations-show-e

Anders Corr, Ph.D. March 2015: Vietnam Normalization Redux: Trade, Democracy, and Security

Received from www.jpolrisk.com/vietnam-normalization-redux-trade-dem

Should Cambodia Join ASEAN Free Trade Area?

Should Cambodia Join ASEAN Free Trade Area?

  Every International Organization is created for various reasons, for example economic cooperation or reducing the regional conflicts. In Asia, we have Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN), which was found in 1967. To promote regional economic growth, ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), part of the three ASEAN’s pillars, was created at ASEAN Summit in Singapore in 1992. The main objectives of the AFTA are to create a single market and an international production base, to attract foreign direct investments, to expand intra-ASEAN trade and investments and eliminate of non-tariff barriers. While some people say Cambodia will get negative effects, especially on domestic products, by taking part in AFTA, others believe Cambodia will get benefits. Because of the opposite ideas, a question “Should Cambodia join ASEAN Free Trade Area?” is commonly asked. For us, we strongly support that Cambodia should join the AFTA due to the reasons as follows. 

         

First, the flow of trade of Cambodian products in the regional area will highly increase. Most of products' tariff will be reduced, according to the agreement. Therefore, the products made in Cambodia will be more needed since the price is accepted with no or low tax. For example, a can of beer of Cambodia is cheaper than a can of beer of Korea in ASEAN market because, as a member of AFTA, the Cambodian product can be imported by other countries in ASEAN with low tax or freely, whereas the Korean product has to pay full tariff.  Therefore, exporting goods of Cambodia such as clothes and agriculture products will make Cambodia's GDP grow higher. 

The second benefit that Cambodia will earn from the AFTA is international investment. When Cambodia implements ASEAN Free Trade Area, the products will be sold not only in Cambodia's markets but also to the whole ASEAN members'. Nowadays, many huge factories and industry are not willing to establish in Cambodia due to the fact that Cambodia's markets are too small. However, while we have a lot of resources, Cambodia will attract many investors to settle companies because ASEAN markets are open – single market – for the ten members, meaning that the products produced in Cambodia are not only bought by the locals but also easily exported without tariff to the ASEAN members. Cambodian economy, therefore, is expected to increase rapidly because Cambodia is going to export more products, so the gap between export and import will be equal. Moreover, a number of employers will be highly hired, so that this can reduce national poverty.  Clearly, the flow of trade of Cambodia will increase smoothly that it can give a great positive effect to the economy and the GDP of Cambodia.

The final and most important achievement that Cambodia will enjoy after joining AFTA is infrastructure development. The land used for settling down the companies, industries and factories will be necessarily needed. However, the price value of land in the central city is absolutely high. Therefore, the outskirt city is the best choice. The cities will get bigger that it may give multiple advantages to people. The area where there are many factories settled down get more expansive, and the labor is more required. Moreover, there are workers, so the flow of selling goods, getting services, and public services will be increased. Another advantage from the infrastructure is public and private services improvement. Banks, hospitals, schools, recreational places, and so on will be much more improve to serve the people in the area. Another development is transportation. In order to transport goods or do the commercial activities, Cambodia must develop the roads and bridges because roads highways and bridges are the most important things to export and import products from one country to other countries. Therefore, the government of Cambodia and local and foreign investors will invest on those things. Furthermore, aids from other countries will be higher. Due to the fact that many factories and industry of China have been installed in Cambodia, for example, China is willing to develop transportation in order to transport products. In the 21st century, China wants to promote the “One Belt, One Road” policy, which means that China wants to build the roads that connect with countries around itself and all ASEAN nation members (Lucio, 2015). 

Some people argue that domestic products will face problems since Cambodian products’ quality are very limited because there are no many modern technologies and skillful workers. However, it is not a big deal. This problem can be solved. Cambodia may suffer for the first few years, but the country will be better for long term because it will be the best chance for Cambodian people to learn from the others and practice in doing with them at the same time. Entrepreneurs may have forums to exchange experiences. Moreover, technology can be imported while skillful workers can be trained. For example, now the people are not able to design and build a fifty-story building, so it is necessary to hire some knowledgeable designers and skillful workers to do one while the local people learn practically as well.

In conclusion, we strongly encourage Cambodia to join ASESN Free Trade Area since Cambodia is going to gain the benefits from it and since many opportunities are waiting for. Participating in the AFTA, Cambodia will develop more on trade sector because its products will be smoothly flowed and more needed by the other countries. Also, when the trades across the border work better, Cambodian economy is going to grow as fast as it is planned. The investments from outsiders will be more and more that can create many jobs for local people. As industries and factories grow larger, the infrastructure will be needed and developed. Therefore, Cambodia will become one country that has fast-economic growth in the region 

Written by: Uk Dararath

                    Lee Sang Min

                    Cheouk Samady

                    Ing Sopheak

References

N.n. (2014). ASEAN FREE TRADE AREA (AFTA): AN UPDATE. Retrieved from http://www.asean.org/communities/asean-economic-community/item/asean-free-trade-area-afta-an-update

Phnom Penh Post. (1997). Step by step toward AFTA and ASEAN. Retrieved from www.phnompenhpost.com/national/step-step-toward-afta-and-asean

Cambodia Home. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/cambodia

Lucio. (2015). ASEAN Connectivity and China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’. Retrieved from thediplomat.com/2015/03/asean-connectivity-and-chinas-one-belt-one-road/     

Transitions of Philippine Foreign Policy under President Duterte - by Uk Dararath

Transitions of Philippine Foreign Policy under President Duterte

Written by Uk Dararath 

A longstanding defense relationship between the Philippines and the United States seems to be getting weaker since the beginning of President Duterte’s administration. The military exercises that have been conducted annually would end as President Duterte announced that there would be no longer military exercise. “President Rodrigo Duterte has verbally given notice to the United States that the scheduled war games between the Philippines and the United States next month would be the last” (Tesiorna 2016). The ending of the security relations between the Philippines and the U.S is claimed to get rid of foreign policy dependency (Parameswaran 2016).

Source ABS News

The event of altering foreign relations from Washington and the transitions towards Beijing have made significant attentions of world politics. China, also as a rival of the Philippines on South China Sea disputes, becomes a strategic partnership for the Philippines. The state visit of President Duterte in October allowed the two countries to strengthen bilateral talks and sign a plenty of agreements, including trades, investment and tourism (Hunt, Rivers & Shoichet 2016). 

The transitions of Philippine foreign policy have posed questions by some analysts. Is the ending of security ties with the U.S a signal of the weakening of the U.S power?  Is China getting more influence over U.S in Southeast Asia, in particular? What will the Philippines and the United State lose and get with these issues? 

Obviously, China takes a step further in influencing countries in Southeast Asia. Despite the disputes between the Philippines and China over South China Sea, China is still most important to countries in Southeast Asia, especially the Philippines, in terms of economic development, foreign aids and infrastructure. “Duterte has chosen to focus on China's deeper pockets in the hope of lucrative trade deals” (Heydarian, cited in CNN). 

President Duterte says that it is time to say good bye to the United States and he [and the Philippines] is not an American puppet. “Your stay in my country was for your own benefit. So time to say goodbye, my friend,” and “I will not go to America anymore. I will just be insulted there,” said Duterte (France 2016). These show that the power of the United States decreased significantly. The end of security relations with the Philippines might be a great loss of the United State for its security strategies in Southeast Asia and with China.

References

France, Agence. 2016. Inquirer.Net. October 20. Accessed 15 November, 2016. http://globalnation.inquirer.net/147175/time-to-say-goodbye-duterte-tells-us-during-visit-to-china.

Katie, Hunt; Rivers, Matt ; Shoich, Catherine E. 2016. CNN International. October 0. Accessed November 15, 2016. http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/20/asia/china-philippines-duterte-visit/.

Parameswaran, Prashanth. 2016. The Diplomat. October 27. Accessed November 15, 2016. http://thediplomat.com/2016/10/will-duterte-end-the-us-philippine-military-alliance/.

Tesiorna, Ben . 2016. CNN Philippines. September 29. Accessed November 15, 2016. http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/09/29/Duterte-last-US-joint-military-exercise.html.