On August 8, 1967, five leaders gathered to debate urgent political issues and promote regional stability. It takes place in Bangkok, talks gave birth to some of the vital pillars in contemporary diplomacy: ASEAN, an abbreviation of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations.
Over the years, one country showed itself as a “natural leader” ASEAN – As the scientist quoted Fortuna Anwar – Indonesia. Among the remaining nine Member States, Indonesia initiated peaks and basic principles, and laid the premise of the organization.
Today, the secretariat is proudly on the Kebayoran Bar in South Jakarta – with its own MRT station – and Jakarta stays the organization of the organization’s nerves. One word involves mind: why?
Early story of Aseana
In the years 1950–1970 in Southeast Asia, the communist revolt and ongoing inter -stanke conflicts, akin to the confrontation between Indonesia and Malaysia, the separation of Singapore from Malaysia and the war between Vietnam and Cambodia. Southeast Asia countries were also while constructing a nation after independence and economic underdevelopment.
Thailand perceived the presence of regional organization as crucial for the answer to those sources of instability. In addition, the Cold War goes crazy, dividing the world into two political blocks. For the developing countries of Southeast Asia, this was a very sensitive time, since the Vacte of Power may cause that great powers will enter the aim of political profit and ideological domination.
As the one country in Southeast Asia, which has never been colonized, Thailand was aware of this. The nations of Southeast Asia needed places that gathering and strengthening the nice powers.
Thailand, ASEANA’s real brain
The possibility occurred when the strain between Malaysia and the Philippines increased attributable to the territorial struggle for Sabah. As a result, ASA (Association of South -Eastern Asia), the predecessor of ASEAN with 3 members – Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand – broke up.
Due to its political neutrality regarding the Sabah dispute, Thailand adopted a conciliation role. Thailand proposed the thought of a brand new organization that included three ASA countries in addition to Indonesia and Singapore.
The champion behind the entire trial was that Khoman, who then served because the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. In his article, which was re -published on the official website of ASEAN, Khoman wrote that he “felt the duty” to cope with instability occurring within the region. He was also supported by universal statesmen, akin to former Prime Minister Pridi Banomyong, expressing the importance of cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The Thai foreign office began to develop a press release for the brand new organization. Leaders from the five future Member States were invited to Bang Saen, and later Bangkok to approve the last project, giving birth to ASEAN.
Indonesia, Thailand’s ally from the very starting
If it was Thailand who proposed the thought of ASEAN, why the capital of the organization in Indonesia?
Immediately after the birth of Asean Thailand, she began to experience a series of military attacks until 1976. Khoman was principally “thrown out” from his office, and the management of ASEANA moved to Adam Malik, the then Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, ally of Khoman from the primary day.
In his article, Khoman admitted that the primary person he talked about about his idea was Malik, because Indonesia was the biggest country in Southeast Asia. It was even Malik who suggested the name ASEAN, winning him by a carefree nickname “Master of Mixing Aerrons” from Khoman.
In the absence of Thailand, Indonesia turned ASEAN right into a formal organization. Earlier, ASEAN was only a multilateral forum with no clear vision or mechanism, especially with a non -binding declaration.
For this reason, quoted by Khoman, Asean began to “differ from the unique path.” What was speculated to be peaceful cooperation became conflict. The threat of Vietnam, which took over the remaining of the French Indochina and a few parts of Thailand, for instance, proved that ASEAN didn’t initially promote regional stability.
As an answer to this Indonesia initiated the primary ASEAN summit in 1976. This peak meant the start of ASEAN as a more institutionalized international organization. It also gave birth to 2 documents promoting mutual cooperation and peaceful coexistence: TAC (Amita and Cooperation Treaty in Southeast Asia) and the primary ASEAN Concord, sometimes also called Bali Concord I.
Establishment of ASEAN Headquarters
The peak also presented the thought of the headquarters to coordinate meetings, provide facilities and conduct projects. In 1981, the secretariat of ASEAN was established and in Jakarta. The alternative of location was made to respect the important thing role of Indonesia within the ASEAN institutional constructing.
One of the explanation why Jakarta became the primary center of ASEAN was that Indonesia was considered politically neutral. While other countries within the region encountered intricate problems, akin to Khmer Rouge in Cambodia and the post -war reconstruction in Vietnam, Indonesia was relatively protected. Another reason was that Indonesia had resources for the development of the secretariat, especially the land used for the constructing on Sisingamrangarja Street.
Indonesia’s efforts in establishing the secretariat in Jakarta may also be interpreted as a part of your personal interest. In the book Foreign policy of IndonesiaPolitical scientist Michael Leifer notes that Malik’s diplomacy under the leadership of President Suharto focused on restoring a positive image after years of hostility, akin to confrontation with Malaysia. By showing his “commitment” in ASEAN, Indonesia becomes a supporter of peace and multilateralism.
Apart from the secretariat
Today’s Jakarta shouldn’t be only the situation of the ASEAN secretariat within the physical sense, but more. In 2012, within the workshops that took place on the Secretariat of ASEAN, Governor of Jakartan Soeetanto Soehodho stated that Jakarta is the diplomatic capital of ASEAN.
In addition to the secretariat of Jakart, he stays a vital party within the book of the history of Asean. Even in the course of the preparation of the Indonesian government, they’re treated to transfer the capital to Kalimantan, ASEAN officials emphasized the importance of getting Jakarta because the ASEAN core. Jakarta has been the capital of the organization for over 30 years and apparently it would all the time be.
Reference
- Anwar, Fortuna. “Indonesia is a natural leader of ASEANA and a key for Indo Pacific Strategy.” Global Dialogue Review 15, No. 1 (2024).
- Khoman, Thanat. “Conception and evolution of ASEAN”. Written on September 1, 1992 Asean July 17, 2025 https://asean.org/the-founding-of-asean/asean-conception-and-evolution-ba-thanat-khoman/.
- Leifer, Michael. Indonesian foreign policy. Jakarta: PT Gramedia, 1989.
- Septiari, Dian. “Jakarta designed the capital of Asean, says secretary general.” Post Jakarta. Posted on October 7, 2019. Access on July 17, 2025. https://www.thejakartapost.com/seasia/2019/10/07/jakarta-to-remain-aseans-capital-secretary-general-says.html.
