The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) is a peace treaty among Southeast Asian countries established by the founding members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a geo-political and economic organisation of 11 countries located in Southeast Asia.
History On 24 February 1976, the treaty was signed into force by the leaders of the original members of ASEAN. Other members acceded to it upon or before joining the bloc. It was amended on 15 December 1987 by a protocol to open the document for accession by states outside Southeast Asia,, and again on 25 July 1998, to condition such accession on the consent of all member states. On 23 July 2001, the parties established the rules of procedure of the treaty's High Council, which was stipulated in Article 14 of the document. On 7 October 2003, during the annual summit, a declaration was released that says: "A High Council of [the treaty] shall be the important component in the ASEAN Security Community since it reflects ASEAN's commitment to resolve all differences, disputes and conflicts peacefully." Papua New Guinea was the first country outside ASEAN to sign the treaty in 1989. , sixteen countries outside the bloc have acceded to the treaty. On 22 July 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed the TAC on behalf of the United States. The European Union announced in 2009 its intention to accede as soon as the treaty would be amended to allow for the accession of non-states and joined accordingly on 12 July 2012.
The treaty has been endorsed by the General Assembly stating that: "The purposes and principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and its provisions for the pacific settlement of regional disputes and for regional co-operation to achieve peace, amity and friendship among the peoples of Southeast Asia [are] in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations."
Principles The purpose of the Treaty is to promote perpetual peace, everlasting amity and co-operation among the people of Southeast Asia which would contribute to their strength, solidarity, and closer relationship. In their relations with one another, the High Contracting Parties shall be guided by the following fundamental principles;Forty-seventh session of the General Assembly A/C.1/47/L.24 30 October 1992
a. mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identity of all nations,
b. the right of every State to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion or coercion,
c. non-interference in the internal affairs of one another,
d. settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful means,
e. renunciation of the threat or use of force, and
f. effective co-operation among themselves.
Parties The following table lists the parties in the order of the dates on which they entered into the treaty:
No Country Date 1 24 February 1976 2 3 4 5 6 7 January 1984 7 6 July 1989The Straits Times, "PNG is first 'outsider' to accede to Bali treaty," Singapore, 8 July 1989. 8 29 June 1992 However, a United Nations document states that Laos acceded to the treaty on the same day as Vietnam, 22 July 1992. The reason for the discrepancy is not apparent. 9 22 July 1992 10 23 January 1995 11 27 July 1995 12 8 October 2003 13 14 2 July 2004 15 16 27 November 2004 17 29 November 2004 18 25 July 2005 19 28 July 2005 20 10 December 2005 21 20 July 2006 The instrument of accession was deposited half a year after it was signed. 22 13 January 2007 23 1 August 2007 24 25 24 July 2008 26 23 July 2009 27 23 July 2010 28 29 12 July 2012 30 31 17 November 2012 32 1 July 2013 33 6 September 2016 34 35 36 1 August 2018 37 38 31 July 2019 39 2 November 2019 40 41 10 November 2020 42 43 44 3 August 2022 45 46 47 48 49 50 10 November 2022 51 12 July 2023 52 4 September 2023 53 54 5510 October 2024 56 9 July 2025 57 5825 October 2025 59 24 July 2026 60 61 62
Even though Spain was recognised as a member of the treaty on 10 November 2022, they have yet to ratify their accession. Secretary of state at Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kung Phoak stated that Spain's efforts to join the treaty are moving slowly.
References
External links "Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia - Indonesia, 24 February 1976". Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Retrieved 30 November 2018.