International Seminar
“Reconsidering ASEAN Centrality: Global Geopolitical Tensions and Indonesia’s 2023
Chairmanship in ASEAN”
JAKARTA – On Wednesday, 07 December 2022, The Habibie Center held itsinternational seminar entitled “Reconsidering ASEAN Centrality: Global Geopolitical Tensions and Indonesia’s 2023 Chairmanship in ASEAN”. This particular international seminar featured Col. Inf. Frega Ferdinand Wenas (Indonesian Army Officer & Lecturer), H.E. Vasyl Hamianin (Ukraine’s Ambassador for Indonesia), and Dr. Lee Chyung-Ly
(Professor of International Relations, National Chengchi University) as speakers, with Rene L. Pattiradjawane (Associate Fellow, The Habibie Center) as the moderator. The years 2022 and 2023 are monumental to Indonesia’s standing as a global and
regional leader. Indonesia has presided over the G20 since December 2021 and is set to
lead 19 states and the European Union in the upcoming G20 Summit—the most critical agenda for the group—in November 2022. Indonesia’s role in hosting this year’s G20 meetings and its affiliated plans has facilitated collaboration to address global
challenges, prominently in three priority issues: global health, digital transformation, and sustainable energy transition. Towards the end of 2022, Indonesia will also embark on its ASEAN Chairmanship after
receiving the leadership baton from Cambodia. Indonesia’s contributions to ASEAN, both with and without the chairman status, have innovatively enhanced ASEAN’s standing as a regional organization. For instance, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation was built upon the Bali Concord I and signed in Indonesia in 1976. The ASEAN Community departed from the Bali Concord II, a document signed during Indonesia’s chairmanship in 2003. Indonesia has also immensely contributed to ASEAN’s evolution as a regional institution, as most aptly demonstrated by pressures from constituents and leaders in Indonesia to adopt the ASEAN Charter and formulate the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. A side from internal challenges, Indonesia’s role will also be scrutinized in addressing
recent global issues, such as the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, nuclearization in North Korea, and the stability of the Taiwan Strait. Indonesia, with its credential as a mediator, will have to optimize its role in tackling these issues during its ASEAN Chairmanship next year. For instance, Indonesia may create new diplomatic approaches, both through bilateral and regional engagements under the ASEAN framework, as well as other multilateral platforms. Indonesia’s ability to respond to these issues will surely improve its bargaining power at the international level. With the various challenges and threats above mentioned, the leadership of Indonesia continues to be tested in maintaining its integrity. Likewise, its role in maintaining world order in accordance with the mandate of the 1945 Constitution must reflect the values of democracy and human rights. The objectives of this seminar were to: (a) identify priorities of and challenges to
Indonesia’s 2023 ASEAN Chairmanship in upholding the values of democracy and
human rights; and (b) analyze the ASEAN Centrality concept in navigating regional and
global tensions. Contact:
Dewi Isma Rikya IhsanCommunication Officer
The Habibie Center
Jl.Kemang Selatan No.98 Jakarta 12560
Tel: (62-21) 7817211 Fax: (62-21) 7817212
Email: dewi@habibiecenter.or.id (***)