3. Example One:ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Created in 1994 Promotes political and security dialogue and cooperation among countries in Asia-Pacific region Aims to provide an avenue for countries in the region to discuss security issues and resolve conflicts peacefully.
8. Benefits of Regional Relations "Both sides can benefit enormously from cooperation, given their increasing interdependence across the economic, political and security spheres, while friction will be costly and conflict disastrous for both. This should help maintain Sino-U.S. relations on an even keel." – PM Lee HsienLoong Political Social Economic
9. Political Allows Singapore to be in a better position when dealing with other countries or associations by combining the strengths of other member countries Help improves ties among members of ASEAN Provide opportunities for members to resolve conflicts and discuss issues
10. Social Provided Singapore with opportunities to strengthen its relationship with its neighbours through cooperating with member countries By cooperation, a stronger relationship is fostered between Singapore and its member countries Therefore, in times of need, member countries would “return the favour” and help Singapore (Education and professional exchange) ”strengthen relations between Singapore and Vietnam establish important interpersonal relations.”-A Vietnamese group’s view on the assistance received
11. Economic Gave Singapore a role to play in maintaining regional peace and promoting economic development promote adaptation and mitigation technologies in the area of climate change. ASEAN Economic Community will transform ASEAN into a region with free movement of goods, services, investment, skilled labour, and freer flow of capital.
12. Argument: National Interests TALENT; Singapore is a little red dot lacking talents, so we need foreign talents (the scholars) in order to help boost our economics.For example, Education and professional exchange RESOURCES; Due to land constraints, Singapore does not have much resources, so we have to forge good relationships with neighbouring countries so that we can improve trade relationships and negotiate in order to get the resources that we need. ENVIRONMENTAL COLLABORATION; Singapore is a small country surrounded by neighbouring countries in the same region, thus being easily affected by their activities (e.g. Forest fires in Indonesia in 1997 causing serious haze pollution). Thus Singapore needs such diplomacy to negotiate and tackle the sensitive issues together with the countries in the same region without offending them.
13. Argument; Comparison Bilateral relations is only between two countries, and one country may not provide much support in terms of needs, as compared to regional diplomacy which can offer much more help due to larger number of member countries. Since bilateral relations only involves two countries, if the two countries have turned against one another, there would not be a mediator to resolve the conflict, and the condition would continue to worsen.
14. UN has too many countries to take care of, and may not be able to attend to Singapore’s needs readily as compared to ASEAN member countries which is together in a region. Compared to UN, ASEAN members have more similar culture and traditions, and would be able to understand each other better. Since Singapore is the founding member of ASEAN, it would assume a more respectable position in ASEAN, and ASEAN would be more willing to listen and help Singapore. Argument 2; Comparison
