Yesterday a contributor to
the Jakarta Globe suggested reasons why
Papua New Guinea (PNG) would qualify to join ASEAN. PNG has been attempting to join ASEAN since
it received observer status in 1976. The
article provides strong reasons both for and against ASEAN membership for
PNG. The major reasons against
membership are related to governance in the country. However, the article did not discuss the
institutional barriers in ASEAN against PNG membership.
Article 6 of the ASEAN
Charter lays out the criteria for membership:
(a) location in the recognized geographical region of
Southeast Asia;
(b) recognition by all ASEAN Member States;
(c) agreement to be bound and to abide by the Charter; and
(d) ability and willingness
to carry out the obligations of Membership.
PNG qualifies under criteria
(b) and (c), but the other criteria are more difficult.
First, PNG arguably does not
fall within the recognized geographical region of Southeast Asia, a requirement
of criterion (a). Unlike Timor Leste,
PNG was not directly administered by the British, Dutch, French or American
governments that controlled the colonies of Southeast Asia (with the exception
of Thailand). PNG was partially under German
control, then later administered by Australia (with a very brief stint under
British control) until its independence.
This differs from Timor Leste, which was occupied by Indonesia and
routinely considered part of Southeast Asia.
Second, the governance
problems in PNG raise major issues regarding criteria (d). As a Commonwealth member, the laws and
regulations would appear to make PNG easier to comply with ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC) commitments, much as Commonwealth members Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore
have done. However, the governance
issues and poor infrastructure in PNG would make it difficult for the country
to implement AEC obligations. This is
despite the head start that it has on Timor Leste as an independent nation. Yet
as this blog has noted, ASEAN
is not ready take on Timor Leste as a member, given its own difficulties
(although it wil eventually join). PNG
as a member would be an even greater challenge, given its larger size and
deep-set governance issues.
Both of these factors, in
particular the sense that PNG is not part of Southeast Asia, will likely
prevent PNG from receiving serious consideration as an ASEAN member. Unlike Timor Leste, economics and history do
not favor PNG. Rather like Sri Lanka,
PNG can play a supporting role in Southeast Asia even if it is not an ASEAN
member.
