ASEAN 101 2021 offered a 4-part series to provide unique insight into the US-ASEAN relationship and this diverse region. Featuring speakers with firsthand knowledge of Southeast Asia – its diverse nations, its cultures, and its policies—the 2021 series focuses on four key areas of interest to U.S. policymakers and their advisors. Designed to increase awareness and understanding, the one-hour sessions offered staff the opportunity to hear from and interact with diverse experts from on and off the Hill. The 2021 ASEAN 101 Congressional Briefing Series connected Congressional staff with academic, government, and business leaders with direct experience and expertise on this extremely diverse and critical region.
This series was open exclusively to Congressional staff. Staffers who attended 2 or more of the 4 sessions received a Professional Development Certificate from USAI in recognition of their participation. If you are a staffer interested in viewing a recording of any of the briefings, please visit our ASEAN 101 password protected page and request the password by emailing asean101@usasiainstitute.org.
2021 ASEAN 101 SESSIONS
Session 1 | ASEAN as a Community: Why it Matters Thursday, June 10, 2021 | 1:00-2:00 pm EDT
In the opening session of the 4th annual ASEAN 101 Congressional Briefing Series, Dr. Satu Limaye, Vice President and Director of the East West Center and Ben Dolven, Specialist in Asian Affairs at the Congressional Research Service, joined the US-Asia Institute for a discussion on ASEAN’s history, structure, and current political landscape. Mr. Dolven spoke broadly on the founding purpose of ASEAN in addition to key factors like immense economic activity and demographic changes that make Southeast Asia critical. Following Mr. Dolven's comments, Dr. Limaye focused on the challenges facing ASEAN, factors for the Association's cohesion and success, why ASEAN is so important to US goals in the region, and the role that China and other major powers play in the region. Congressional staffers also were able to ask questions covering a wide range of topics including how ASEAN is impacted by US-China competition and what the Biden administration should do in the coming year regarding US support in the region.
Session 2 | ASEAN’s Integrated Economic Partnership: Strategic Importance and Opportunities for the US | Thursday, June 17, 2021 | 1:00-2:00 pm EDT
In the second session of the 4th annual ASEAN 101 Congressional Briefing Series, Ambassador Mike Michalak from the US ASEAN Business Council and Ian Clements from the International Trade Administration, shared their insights on ASEAN’s integrated economy and potential for growth in addition to the importance of a strong US-ASEAN economic and trade relationship. Ian Clements first spoke about the Department of Commerce's work, his bureau’s presence in ASEAN, the four priority industry sectors in Southeast Asia (energy and climate, ICT and smart cities, healthcare, aerospace and defense), and barriers to greater trade and investment including the need for clearer standards across the region. Following Mr. Clement’s comments, Ambassador Mike Michalak gave an overview of ASEAN's shared economy, fertile landscape for US business investment and trade opportunities, and how the US relationship with ASEAN supports thousands of jobs in the US. Overall, the panelists view ASEAN as a critical region to current US economic standing and believe that this already strong economic relationship has immense potential given ASEAN's population growth, diversity, and youth.
Session 3 | ASEAN as a Security Community: Problem and Prospects Thursday, June 24, 2021 | 1:00-2:00 pm EDT
In the third session of the 4th annual ASEAN 101 Congressional Briefing Series, William Wise, Nonresident Fellow and Chair of the Southeast Asia Forum at the Stimson Center, Prashanth Parameswaran, Fellow at the Wilson Center and Director at BowerGroupAsia, and George Kalantzakis, Manager of International Government Affairs and Political Risk at ConocoPhillips, joined the US-Asia Institute for a discussion about security issues facing ASEAN members and the US’ role in the region. Mr. Parameswaran outlined US economic and military security interests in Southeast Asia, other mechanisms in Southeast Asia to coordinate on security matters, and gave an overview of the main security challenges that ASEAN countries are concerned with; including COVID-19, unemployment, climate change, domestic instability, and US-China confrontations in the South China Sea. Elaborating on Mr. Parameswaran’s comments, Professor Wise explained the differences in security priorities between individual countries, and emphasized the importance for the US in the long-term to implement policies that assist the ASEAN nations in addressing their multitude of security threats in order to promote confidence that the US can serve as a viable and consistent security partner.
Session 4 | Navigating Diplomacy and De-escalation Challenges Wednesday, June 30, 2021 | 1:00-2:00 pm EDT:
In the fourth and final session of the 4th annual ASEAN 101 Congressional Briefing Series Ambassador Stapleton Roy, Founding Director Emeritus, Kissinger Institute on China and the United States, and Kent Lucken, Managing Director, CitiBank, joined the US-Asia institute for a discussion about diplomacy and de-escalation challenges within ASEAN. Ambassador Roy provided an overview of the region’s progress and development, particularly in terms of economic development, before focusing on why ASEAN consolidates its power and pursues policies of consensus and non-interference. Amb. Roy then explained US interests in the region, emphasizing the need to invest in non-military modes of involvement in order to prevent ASEAN countries from becoming economically dominated by China. Amb. Roy and Mr. Lucken also discussed the major security issues facing the region and the “ASEAN way” of dealing with these issues, including the South China Sea, democratic backsliding in Myanmar, and growing Chinese influence in Cambodia and Laos.
