THE AMBIGUITY OF TIMOR-LESTE'S RELATIONSHIP WITH ASEAN: EXPLORING EXCLUSIONARY PRACTICES AND MEMBERSHIP PROCESS CHALLENGES

Fridolino Gama  Soares; Alexandre De Sousa  Guterres

doi:10.54783/ijsoc.v6i2.1213

Fridolino Gama Soares Mahasiswa Pasca Sarjana Departemen Hubungan Internasional, FISIP-Universitas Indonesia
Alexandre De Sousa Guterres Dosen Universidade da Paz, Dili, Timor-Leste

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54783/ijsoc.v6i2.1213

Keywords: Timor-Leste, ASEAN, Geopolitical complexities

Abstract

The presence of Timor-Leste as an independent country but not fully integrated into ASEAN creates a complex relationship ambiguity. This article explores exclusionary practices that hinder Timor-Leste's membership process in ASEAN and the challenges faced in overcoming this ambiguity. Through an analysis of regional political dynamics, the article discusses how ASEAN manages the geopolitical complexities in Southeast Asia following Timor-Leste's independence in 2002. A descriptive analytical approach is used to understand the factors influencing the ASEAN membership process for Timor-Leste. The research highlights the role of ASEAN diplomacy in managing relations with Timor-Leste inclusively, in accordance with principles of sovereignty and regional security. The study concludes that Timor-Leste's membership process in ASEAN faces significant challenges, requiring a long-term strategy evaluation to integrate Timor-Leste effectively. Recommendations include deepening broader regional cooperation, strengthening ASEAN diplomacy, and building more open dialogue with Timor-Leste. These steps are expected to pave the way for resolving relationship ambiguities and enhancing regional stability in Southeast Asia. The parameters used in this research are Institutional Theory supported by a Historical-Comparative Approach.

References

Acharya, Amitav, and Jillian Moo-Young. 2006. ‘Constructing Security and Identity in Southeast Asia’. The Brown Journal of World Affairs 12(2): 155–63.

Almada, Aurora, Santos, and Zélia Pereira. 2022. ‘Portugal, as Nações Unidas e a autodeterminação de Timor-Leste, 1974-1982’. Ler Historia (14 Junho 2022): 65–89. doi:https://doi.org/10.4000/lerhistoria.10233.

ASEAN, ed. 2008. The Asean Charter. Jakarta: Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

‘ASEAN and the Question of Cambodia: Regional Limitations of Enlargement’. 1997. Strategic Comments 3(7): 1–2. doi:10.1080/1356788970372.

ASEAN Secretariat News. 2012. ‘Joint Communique of the 38th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting Vientiane, 26 July 2005’. ASEAN Main Portal. https://asean.org/joint-communique-of-the-38th-asean-ministerial-meeting-vientiane-26-july-2005/ (December 23, 2023).

Bilveer Singh. 1996. East Timor Indonesia and the World : Myths and Realities. Kuala Lumpur: ADPR Consult, 1996.

Broinowski, Alison, ed. 1990. ASEAN into the 1990s. London: Palgrave Macmillan UK. doi:10.1007/978-1-349-20886-9.

Buszynski, Leszek. 1992. ‘Southeast Asia in the Post-Cold War Era: Regionalism and Security’. Asian Survey 32(9): 830–47. doi:10.2307/2645074.

Cardoso, João da Cruz. 2024. ‘When Can Timor-Leste Expect to Become a Full Member of ASEAN?’ https://thediplomat.com/2024/03/when-can-timor-leste-expect-to-become-a-full-member-of-asean/ (June 30, 2024).

‘Chairman’s Statement of the 31st ASEAN Summit’. 2017. ASEAN Main Portal. https://asean.org/chairmans-statement-of-the-31st-asean-summit/ (December 17, 2023).

CHONGKITTAVORN, KAVI. 2011. ‘East Timor and Asean: New Strategic Imperatives’. https://www2.irrawaddy.com/article.php?art_id=20534&page=2 (July 1, 2024).

Church, Peter. 2009. A Short History of South-East Asia. 5th Edition. 42 McDougall Street, Milton, Queensland 4064, Australia: John Wiley & Sons Australia Ltd. https://khmersharingdocuments.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/a-short-history-of-south-east-asia-5th-edition.pdf.

CNN. 1998. ‘CNN - ASEAN Nations Disagree on Admitting Cambodia - December 15, 1998’. http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf/9812/15/asean.03/index.html (June 30, 2024).

Cuyvers, Ludo. 2019. ‘The “ASEAN Way” and ASEAN’s Development Gap with Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam: A Critical View’. Asia Pacific Business Review 25(5): 683–704. doi:10.1080/13602381.2019.1652980.

Cuyvers, Ludo, Lurong Chen, and Philippe De Lombaerde. 2019. ‘50 Years of Regional Integration in ASEAN’. Asia Pacific Business Review 25(5): 609–18. doi:10.1080/13602381.2019.1652975.

Department of Public Information UNTAET. 2002. ‘UNTAET’. https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/past/etimor/UntaetB.htm (May 20, 2024).

Dobell, Graeme. 2006. ‘Malaysia Considers Extending Timor Troop Commitment - ABC Listen’. https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/am/malaysia-considers-extending-timor-troop-commitment/1768684 (July 1, 2024).

Dosch, Jörn, and Frederick Kliem. 2023. ‘The Association of Southeast Asian Nations: An Introduction’. In The Elgar Companion to ASEAN, eds. Jörn Dosch and Frederick Kliem. Edward Elgar Publishing, 1–15. doi:10.4337/9781800378889.00007.

Emmers, Ralf, and Huong Le Thu. 2021. ‘Vietnam and the Search for Security Leadership in ASEAN’. Asian Security 17(1): 64–78. doi:10.1080/14799855.2020.1769068.

[EXCLUSIVE] Timor Leste Anggota Ke 11 ASEAN. 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwodpMYFja4 (December 17, 2023).

Frederick, H. William. 2018. ‘History of Southeast Asia | Facts, Kingdoms, & Maps | Britannica’. https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-Southeast-Asia-556509 (December 18, 2023).

Gorjão, Paulo. 2002. ‘The Legacy and Lessons of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor’. Contemporary Southeast Asia 24(2): 313–36. doi:10.1355/CS24-2F.

Groeneveldt, W.P. 1960. Historical Notes on Indonesia and Malaya: Compiled from Chinese Sources. 1960: Bhratara.

Gunn, Geoffrey C. 2000. ‘The 500-Year Timorese Funu’. Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars 32(1–2): 5–10. doi:10.1080/14672715.2000.10415774.

Haacke, Jürgen. 2006. ‘Myanmar and ASEAN’. The Adelphi Papers 46(381): 41–60. doi:10.1080/05679320600831896.

Haas, Michael. 1991. ‘The Paris Conference on Cambodia, 1989’. Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars 23(2): 42–53. doi:10.1080/14672715.1991.10413150.

Hurrell, Andrew. 1995. ‘Explaining the Resurgence of Regionalism in World Politics’. Review of International Studies 21(4): 331–58.

Inbaraj, Sonny. 1995. East Timor: Blood and Tears in Asean. Silkworm Books. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=X3hwAAAAMAAJ.

Jill Jolliffe. 1978. East Timor: Nationalism and Colonialism. xi, 362 pp. ed. St. Lucia, Qld.: University of Queensland Press, 1978.

Jones, Lee. 2007. ‘ASEAN Intervention in Cambodia: From Cold War to Conditionality’. The Pacific Review 20(4): 523–50. doi:10.1080/09512740701672001.

Jones, Lee. 2010a. ‘ASEAN’s unchanged melody? The theory and practice of “non-interference” in Southeast Asia’. The Pacific Review 23(4): 479–502. doi:10.1080/09512748.2010.495996.

Jones, Lee. 2010b. ‘(Post-)Colonial State-Building and State Failure in East Timor: Bringing Social Conflict Back In’. Conflict, Security & Development 10(4): 547–75. doi:10.1080/14678802.2010.500544.

Jones, Lee. 2012. ‘ASEAN, Sovereignty and Intervention in Southeast Asia’. CONTEMPORARY SOUTHEAST ASIA 34(2): 303. doi:10.1355/cs34-2i.

Jönsson, Christer, and Jonas Tallberg. 2001. ‘Institutional Theory in International Relations’. Lund University: 31 pages.

Kurus, Bilson. 1993. ‘Understanding ASEAN: Benefits and Raison d’Etre’. Asian Survey 33(8): 819–31. doi:10.2307/2645090.

Mangku, Dewa Gede Sudika. 2017. ‘The Efforts of República Democrática de Timor-Leste (Timor-Leste) To Be a Member of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and Take an Active Role in Maintaining and Creating the Stability of Security in Southeast Asia’. 13.

McIntyre, K.G. 1977. The Secret Discovery of Australia: Portuguese Ventures 200 Years Before Captain Cook. Universitas Michigan: Souvenir Press. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=3HUcAAAAMAAJ.

Mulia, Jalaluddin Rizqi. 2023. ‘Towards an Integrated Southeast Asia: Timor-Leste’s Challenges and Opportunities in Joining ASEAN’. Modern Diplomacy. https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2023/01/28/towards-an-integrated-southeast-asia-timor-lestes-challenges-and-opportunities-in-joining-asean/ (July 1, 2024).

Narine*, Shaun. 2008. ‘Forty Years of ASEAN: A Historical Review’. The Pacific Review 21(4): 411–29. doi:10.1080/09512740802294689.

Neuman, W. Lawrence. 2014. Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. 7. ed., Pearson new internat. ed. Harlow: Pearson.

Ortuoste, Maria. 2011. ‘Timor-Leste and ASEAN: Shaping Region and State in Southeast Asia’. Asian Journal of Political Science 19(1): 1–24. doi:10.1080/02185377.2011.568238.

Ortuoste, Maria. 2019. ‘From Enmity to Amity, Exclusion to Semi-Inclusion’. In Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Timor-Leste, London ; New York: Routledge, 303–13.

Ortuoste, Maria. 2023. ‘The Challenges of Expansion: Timor-Leste and ASEAN’. Asialink. https://asialink.unimelb.edu.au/insights/the-challenges-of-expansion-timor-leste-and-asean2 (July 1, 2024).

Paribatra, Sukhumbhand. 1994. ‘From ASEAN Six to ASEAN Ten: Issues and Prospects’. ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute: 243–58.

Parlamento Nasional Timor-Leste. 2002. ‘CONSTITUIÇÃO DA REPÚBLICA DEMOCRÁTICA DE TIMOR-LESTE’. https://timor-leste.gov.tl/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Constituicao_RDTL_PT.pdf.

Pitakdumrongkit, Kaewkamol. 2022. ‘Timor-Leste’s Road to ASEAN Membership Will Be Challenging: An Economic Integration Perspective - RSIS’. https://www.rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/cms/timor-lestes-road-to-asean-membership-will-be-challenging-an-economic-integration-perspective/ (July 1, 2024).

PONG, Pich. 2022. ‘Timor-Leste’s Application for ASEAN Membership: Opportunities and Challenges - Khmer Times’. https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501147534/timor-lestes-application-for-asean-membership-opportunities-and-challenges/ (June 30, 2024).

Rabbitt Roff, Sue. 1992. Timor’s Anschluss : Indonesian and Australian Policy in East Timor 1974-1976. New York : The Edwin Mellen Press, 1992.

Ramos-Horta, José. 1987. Funu : The Unfinished Saga of East Timor. Trenton, N.J.: Red Sea Press Trenton, N.J.

Ravichandran, R. 2006. ‘Timor Leste Hopes Asean Will Relax Conditions On Membership’. https://www.etan.org/et2006/july/29/25tlhope.htm (June 30, 2024).

Reuters. 2022. ‘ASEAN Agrees in Principle to Admit East Timor as 11th Member’. https://www.reuters.com/world/asean-agrees-principle-admit-east-timor-11th-member-2022-11-11/.

Rifqi Mahardika Putra, Calvina Chaeria Ramadhany, and Sofiyanti Salsabila. 2022. ‘Membership Status of Timor Leste in ASEAN Based on ASEAN Charter 2007: Problem and Prospect’. Padjadjaran Journal of International Law 5(2): 244–64. doi:10.23920/pjil.v5i2.796.

Roff, S.R. 1992. Timor’s Anschluss: Indonesian and Australian Policy in East Timor, 1974-76. E. Mellen Press. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=hIdwAAAAMAAJ.

Sahin, Selver B. 2014. ‘Timor-Leste’s Foreign Policy: Securing State Identity in the Post-Independence Period’. Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs 33(2): 3–25. doi:10.1177/186810341403300201.

Schellhorn, Kai M. 1992. ‘Asia After the End of the Cold War’. Southeast Asian Affairs: 58–70.

Seixas, Paulo Castro, Nuno Canas Mendes, and Nadine Lobner. 2019. ‘The “Readiness” of Timor-Leste: Narratives about the Admission Procedure to ASEAN’. Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs 38(2): 149–71. doi:10.1177/1868103419867511.

Singh, Hari. 1997. ‘Vietnam and ASEAN: The Politics of Accommodation’. Australian Journal of International Affairs 51(2): 215–29. doi:10.1080/10357719708445211.

Smith, Tony. 1975. ‘(42) Ramos_Horta_Tony_Smith_1975 - YouTube’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mavWhk_JBYk (June 30, 2024).

Sonny Inbaraj. 1995. East Timor: Blood And Tears In ASEAN. Silkworm Books : ., 1995.

Special Committee on Decolonization. 1961. ‘Special Committee on Decolonization | The United Nations and Decolonization’. https://www.un.org/dppa/decolonization/en/c24/about (June 30, 2024).

Stuart-Fox, Martin. 1998. ‘Laos in 1997: Into ASEAN’. Asian Survey 38(1): 75–79. doi:10.2307/2645470.

Stuart‐Fox, Martin. 1998. ‘Laos in Asean: Dilemmas of Development and Identity’. Asian Studies Review 22(2): 223–37. doi:10.1080/10357829808713196.

Syofyan, Ahmad, Siti Azizah, Shaker Suleiman Ali Al Akayleh, Oksha Dwi Anugrah Panjaitan, and Daffa Ladro Kusworo. 2024. ‘Reformulation of Decision-Making System in ASEAN’. Hasanuddin Law Review 9(3): 317–29. doi:10.20956/halrev.v9i3.4912.

Taylor, J.G. 1999. East Timor: The Price of Freedom. Australai; Thailand and Laos; Singapore and Malaysia: Pluto Press Australia; White Lotus Company; Synergy Books.

Taylor, John G. 1990. The Indonesian Occupation of East Timor 1974-1989: A Chronology. London: Catholic Institute for International Relations in association with the Refugee Studies Programme, University of Oxford.

Timor-Leste Government. 2011. ‘Timor-Leste Strategic Development Plan, 2011–2030’.

Tuan, Hoang Anh. 1993. ‘Why Hasn´t Vietnam Gained ASEAN Membership?’ Contemporary Southeast Asia 15(3): 280–91. doi:10.1355/CS15-3C.

Tuan, Hoang Anh. 1994. ‘Vietnam´s Membership in ASEAN: Economic, Political and Security Implications’. Contemporary Southeast Asia 16(3): 259–73. doi:10.1355/CS16-3B.

Tung, Nguyen Vu. 2002. ‘Vietnam–ASEAN Co‑operation after the Cold War and the Continued Search for a Theoretical Framework’. Contemporary Southeast Asia 24(1): 106–20. doi:10.1355/CS24-1G.

Tung, Nguyen Vu. 2007. ‘Vietnam´ s Membership of ASEAN: A Constructivist Interpretation’. Contemporary Southeast Asia 29(3): 483–505. doi:10.1355/CS29-3F.

Uesugi Yuji. 2014. ‘Security Sector Reform (SSR) in Timor-Leste: the Challenges of Respecting Local Ownership｜Issues in Peacebuilding｜Asia Peacebuilding Initiatives’. APBI. https://www.spf.org/apbi/news_en/i_140109.html (May 4, 2024).

Wah, Chin Kin. 1997. ‘ASEAN: The Long Road to “One Southeast Asia”’. Asian Journal of Political Science 5(1): 1–19. doi:10.1080/02185379708434091.

Windraskinasih, Mutiara, and Arie Afriansyah. 2018. ‘The Struggle Of Becoming The 11th Member State Of Asean: Timor Leste’s Case’. Brawijaya Law Journal 5(2): 74–101. doi:10.21776/ub.blj.2018.005.01.06.