On September 12, 2024, the ASEAN Studies Center of Universitas Gadjah Mada and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia held a public lecture entitled “Navigating Contemporary Challenges: Indonesian Diplomacy in a Changing Global Landscape,”  with speaker Vahd Nabyl A. Mulachela, S.IP., MA, Director of the Center for Policy Strategy for the Asia Pacific and Africa Region. In his presentation, Vahd Nabyl discussed various global challenges and trends that affect Indonesia’s diplomacy today, as well as how the country can play a role in navigating the ever-changing dynamics of global geopolitics.

Global Challenges and Diplomacy Priorities

The speaker explained various global megatrends, including the rivalry between the United States and China, the rise of populism, and threats to stability in regions such as the Taiwan Strait and the Korean Peninsula. He also discussed other issues such as human trafficking, illegal fishing, and the role of US military bases in the region. Other global challenges to be faced in 2024 include environmental risks, artificial intelligence (AI), and political polarization in society.

Vahd Nabyl emphasized that Indonesia’s foreign policy priorities (POLUGRI) include strengthening economic diplomacy, protecting Indonesian citizens, and increasing Indonesia’s role in the region and the world through international forums such as the G20 and ASEAN leadership. In addition, the speaker also highlighted the importance of strengthening Indonesia’s diplomatic infrastructure through representative offices abroad.

Roles and Challenges of Indonesian Diplomacy

According to Vahd Nabyl, Indonesian diplomacy functions in four main roles: representing, protecting, negotiating, and promoting national interests. In addition, diplomacy also has a non-formal role, namely as a bearer of a positive image, a mediator of conflict, and a problem solver. The challenges faced by diplomats include assignments in countries in conflict, culture shock, and financial and family problems.

To be able to survive in dynamic diplomatic tasks, Vahd Nabyl emphasized the importance of idealism, broad thinking, a spirit of learning, and a love for the work being carried out. Indonesian diplomacy has also played a role in strengthening economic and political cooperation in the region, such as through the Indonesia-South Korea economic cooperation forum that discussed the creative economy and public diplomacy.

Human Rights Issues and the ASEAN Non-Interference Principle

In a question and answer session, Vahd Nabyl responded to the issue of human rights (HAM) in ASEAN, especially related to Myanmar. He explained that although ASEAN applies the principle of non-interference, member countries have put diplomatic pressure on Myanmar. ASEAN, he said, is trying to maintain a balance between intervention in the domestic affairs of member countries and maintaining togetherness as a community.

Indonesia’s Optimism in the Asia-Pacific

Closing the public lecture, Vahd Nabyl spoke about the prospects for Indonesian diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific region in the next 10 years. He is optimistic that Indonesia can play a role as a facilitator amidst the rivalry of major powers in the region, especially through the ASEAN Road to Indo-Pacific vision, which focuses on the inclusive involvement of regional countries.

This public lecture is a reminder of the importance of adaptive diplomacy amidst the ever-changing global dynamics.

ASEAN Studies Center welcomed a visitation from Prof. Kimikazu Shigemasa from Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan on 11-12 September 2024. The discussions during the visit revolved around significant topics, including developments in the South China Sea, relations between Japan and Indonesia, ASEAN dynamics, and opportunities for collaboration between the two universities.

On the second day, Professor Shigemasa introduced a group of students accompanying him to participate in interactive sessions within the “Security Cooperation in ASEAN” and “Kerjasama Keamanan di ASEAN” classes. These sessions, lasting three hours, were held in the Faculty Auditorium and structured into three segments. Professor Shigemasa initiated the program with a presentation on Indo-Pacific developments, emphasizing the situation in the South China Sea. This was followed by a presentation from the Kwansei Gakuin University students, titled “Building Our Heart-to-Heart Society Beyond Generations,” focusing on themes such as fostering a caring global society, empowering youth, and enhancing connectivity.

The student presentation was a preparatory exercise for the “ASEAN Pavilion Osaka 2025 EXPO,” scheduled to take place at the ASEAN Secretariat later that week. After this, the program shifted to a discussion on ASEAN and Myanmar’s multiple crises. Students were divided into five groups, each representing key actors relevant to the Myanmar situation: (1) The Tatmadaw, (2) the 5-Point Consensus (5PC) key members (Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore), (3) Mekong member states, particularly Thailand, (4) Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs), and (5) the National League for Democracy (NLD).

Following a short break, the discussions resumed with a focus on “Issues in the South China Sea,” exploring perspectives from major Indo-Pacific stakeholders, including (1) claimant states such as the Philippines and Vietnam, (2) China, (3) the United States, and (4) Indonesia. The dialogue delved into Indonesia’s strategic options in regional security: asserting leadership within ASEAN, advancing its claims in the Natuna Islands, or adopting a neutral stance. The discussions were dynamic and insightful, with students engaging enthusiastically in addressing these critical issues.

In the last few decades, ASEAN has experienced a shift from a state-oriented policy to a people-oriented one. This has become momentum for strengthening the economic, political-security, and socio-cultural pillars. To generate a broader measure of this issue, the ASEAN Studies Center and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia are hosting a Partnership Policy Review Kick-Off on “Strengthening the ASEAN Charter: Review of Regional Mechanisms and Policy Recommendations”

“The world is much different than what it was. and when the organization established its charter in 2007, and the situation at that time was also different than what it was meant when ASEAN was first created,” said Vahd Nabyl A. Mulachela, Director of the Center for Policy Strategy for the Asia Pacific and Africa Region. ASEAN is one of the three main focuses in the policy agenda launched by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs this year.

The existence of pressing issues such as the Myanmar conflict, global power rivalry and its economic-political implications, and the development of multilateralism among dialogue partners then became the background for the urgency of reviewing the ASEAN Charter.

H.E. Ambassador Chilman Arisman, a diplomat from the ASEAN General Directorate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, explained that the relevance of the ASEAN Charter is currently facing challenges after being formed many years ago. “The ASEAN Charter aims for the organization to have a definite legal basis, clear rules, and an effective organizational structure. Meanwhile, currently, we see challenges faced due to changes in the political and economic conditions of ASEAN countries,” he said.

On the way forward, H.E. Ambassador Chilman Arisman said there are at least four things that ASEAN has to do: first, the ASEAN charter needs more strengthening in institutional frameworks and mechanisms in regards to political commitment and recontextualization; second, new approaches to the reform decision-making process; third, enhance collaboration with various stakeholders; and last, push member states political will to implement the reformations.

“Indonesia, during its tenure as ASEAN Chair in 2023, has tried to rebuild trust among countries and restore joint commitment through the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Bali. We need to recontextualize based on the changes in political dynamics that exist,” Chilman explained.
Agreeing with Chilman’s opinion, Dr. Lina Alexandra, a representative of CSIS, emphasized the importance of the sustainability of the ASEAN organization. “Our mission is to maintain and keep ASEAN alive and growing. Then what is more important is to make ASEAN relevant and credible as a regional organization,” she said. Lina divided the challenges of the ASEAN Charter into two problems, namely internal, regional, and external. She said the Myanmar conflict is only one of the problems that the current ASEAN Charter cannot solve.

The current ASEAN Charter is 17 years old and has not been reviewed at all. In fact, ideally, an agreement is legally reviewed every five years, meaning that the ASEAN Charter should have been reviewed three times since it was first agreed upon. This problem is not the responsibility of just a few countries, but all ASEAN member countries. “The ASEAN Charter is not a document that is just placed in a cupboard but is a guide that determines the direction of policy. Also as a joint commitment in facing global challenges,” said Dr. Lina.

The Executive Director of the ASEAN Studies Center, Dr. Dafri Agussalim, highlighted the leadership crisis in ASEAN. According to him, ASEAN needs a strong and visionary leader to overcome this problem. “ASEAN has so far relied on informal management in solving problems. However, strong leadership and good mechanisms are the keys for ASEAN to overcome future challenges,” said Dr. Dafri.

The discussion on the review of the ASEAN Charter by the Center and the Minister is expected to be the first step for ASEAN member countries to review the agreement. In addition, strengthening this commitment can help realize peace, justice, and strong institutions, which are some of the points of the 16th Sustainable Development Goal, and reflect and strengthen its commitment to facing regional and global challenges.