Editing ASEAN (section)

==Foreign relations==
{{Main|ASEAN Summit}}
[[File:Asean flag flying at Royal Thai Embassy Helsinki.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|Royal Thai Embassy, Helsinki, flying its own national flag as well as ASEAN's flag]]ASEAN maintains a global network of alliances, dialogue partners and diplomatic missions, and is involved in numerous international affairs.<ref name="ASEANTreaties">{{cite news |title=Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) {{!}} Treaties & Regimes {{!}} NTI |url=http://www.nti.org/learn/treaties-and-regimes/association-southeast-asian-nations-asean/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413082230/https://www.nti.org/learn/treaties-and-regimes/association-southeast-asian-nations-asean/ |archive-date=13 April 2019 |access-date=3 March 2018 |newspaper=The Nuclear Threat Initiative}}</ref><ref name="aseanUN">{{cite web |date=20 December 2016 |title=ASEAN-UN Partnership |url=http://www.unaprcm.org/asean-un-partnership |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012012749/http://www.unaprcm.org/asean-un-partnership |archive-date=12 October 2018 |access-date=7 December 2017 |website=Asia-Pacific Regional Coordination Mechanism}}</ref><ref name="aseanoverview">{{cite web |title=An Overview of ASEAN-United Nations Cooperation – ASEAN – ONE VISION ONE IDENTITY ONE COMMUNITY |url=http://asean.org/?static_post=background-overview-united-nations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930053140/https://asean.org/?static_post=background-overview-united-nations |archive-date=30 September 2020 |access-date=28 April 2017}}</ref><ref name="UNgovorgs">{{cite web |title=Intergovernmental Organizations |url=https://www.un.org/en/sections/member-states/intergovernmental-organizations/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523053652/http://www.un.org/en/sections/member-states/intergovernmental-organizations/index.html |archive-date=23 May 2017 |access-date=28 April 2017 |website=un.org}}</ref> The organisation maintains good relationships on an international scale, particularly towards Asia-Pacific nations, and upholds itself as a neutral party in politics. It holds [[ASEAN Summit]]s, where [[head of government|heads of government]] of each member states meet to discuss and resolve regional issues, as well as to conduct other meetings with countries outside the bloc to promote external relations and deal with international affairs. The first summit was held in [[Bali]] in 1976. The third summit was in [[Manila]] in 1987, and during this meeting, it was decided that the leaders would meet every five years.<ref name="summit">[http://www.summit99.ops.gov.ph/asean_structure.htm ASEAN Structure], ''ASEAN Primer'' {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080222144528/http://www.summit99.ops.gov.ph/asean_structure.htm |date=22 February 2008 }}</ref> The fourth meeting was held in [[Singapore]] in 1992 where the leaders decided to meet more frequently, every three years.<ref name="summit"/> In 2001, it was decided that the organisation will meet annually to address urgent issues affecting the region. In December 2008, the ASEAN Charter came into force and with it, the ASEAN Summit will be held twice a year. The formal summit meets for three days, and usually includes internal organisation meeting, a conference with foreign ministers of the ASEAN Regional Forum, an ASEAN Plus Three meeting and ASEAN-CER, a meeting of member states with Australia and New Zealand.<ref>[http://asean.org/asean-cer-meeting-trade-is-the-key-driver-in-fostering-growth-siem-reap-31-august-2012/ ASEAN-CER Meeting: Trade is the Key Driver in Fostering Growth] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930053248/https://asean.org/asean-cer-meeting-trade-is-the-key-driver-in-fostering-growth-siem-reap-31-august-2012/ |date=30 September 2020 }}, 31 August 2012, ASEAN Secretariat News</ref>

ASEAN is a major partner of the [[Shanghai Cooperation Organisation]], developing cooperation model with the organisation in the field of security, economy, finance, tourism, culture, environmental protection, development and sustainability.<ref name="Eurasia Future">{{cite news|url=https://www.eurasiafuture.com/2018/06/07/the-shanghai-cooperation-organisation-and-brics-should-combine-to-form-a-single-cohesive-group/|title=The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and BRICS Should Combine to Form a Single Cohesive Group – Eurasia Future|date=7 June 2018|work=Eurasia Future|access-date=11 June 2018|archive-date=30 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930053246/https://eurasiafuture.com/is-chad-losing-control-of-the-central-african-pivot-space/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="eng.sectsco.org">{{cite web|url=http://eng.sectsco.org/news/20170806/309746.html|title=Shanghai Cooperation Organisation {{!}} SCO|website=eng.sectsco.org|access-date=11 June 2018|archive-date=30 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930053311/http://eng.sectsco.org/news/20170806/309746.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="www.xinhuanet.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-06/10/c_137244965.htm|title=Interview: Cambodian FM says Cambodia can bridge SCO and ASEAN – Xinhua {{!}} English.news.cn|work=xinhuanet.com|access-date=11 June 2018|archive-date=30 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930053250/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-06/10/c_137244965.htm}}</ref><ref name="en.sco-russia.ru">{{cite web|url=http://en.sco-russia.ru/cooperation/20140905/1013179818.html|title=SCO-ASEAN Cooperation for Mutual Interests|website=en.sco-russia.ru|access-date=11 June 2018|archive-date=30 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930053251/http://en.sco-russia.ru/cooperation/20140905/1013179818.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, the grouping has been closely aligned with [[China]], cooperating across numerous areas, including economy, security, education, culture, technology, agriculture, human resource, society, development, investment, energy, transport, public health, tourism, media, environment, and sustainability.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://asean.org/storage/2016/01/Overview-of-ASEAN-China-Relations-April-2017.pdf |title=Overview of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations |series = ASEAN Secretariat Information Paper | date = April 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825002517/https://asean.org/storage/2016/01/Overview-of-ASEAN-China-Relations-April-2017.pdf |archive-date=25 August 2018 |access-date=29 November 2018 | pages = 3–5 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Taking Asean-China ties to the next level |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/taking-asean-china-ties-to-the-next-level |work=The Straits Times |date=15 September 2017 |access-date=24 August 2018 |archive-date=25 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825002519/https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/taking-asean-china-ties-to-the-next-level |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=First ASEAN-China maritime field training exercise to be held in October: MINDEF |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/first-asean-china-maritime-exercise-training-navy-mindef-10586432 |work=Channel NewsAsia |access-date=24 August 2018 |archive-date=30 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930053251/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/first-asean-china-maritime-exercise-training-navy-mindef-10586432 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is also the linchpin in the foreign policy of Australia and New Zealand, with the three sides being integrated into an essential alliance.<ref>{{cite news |title=ASEAN-Australia Special Summit ends with commitments on cybersecurity, free trade |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/asean-australia-special-summit-commitment-cybersecurity-trade-10054114 |work=Channel NewsAsia |access-date=16 September 2018 |archive-date=30 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930053252/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/asean-australia-special-summit-commitment-cybersecurity-trade-10054114 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Trade |first1=New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and |title=Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) |url=https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/south-east-asia/association-of-south-east-asian-nations-asean/ |work=New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade |access-date=16 September 2018 |archive-date=30 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930053320/https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/south-east-asia/association-of-south-east-asian-nations-asean/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=ASEAN seeks to strengthen trade relations with partners – Xinhua {{!}} English.news.cn |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-09/01/c_137437019.htm |work=xinhuanet.com |access-date=16 September 2018 |archive-date=30 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930053257/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-09/01/c_137437019.htm }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Stolarchuk |first1=Jewel |title=Reflecting on the ASEAN–Australian relationship |url=http://theindependent.sg/reflecting-on-the-asean-australian-relationship/ |work=The Independent |access-date=16 September 2018 |archive-date=30 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330181723/http://theindependent.sg/reflecting-on-the-asean-australian-relationship/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

ASEAN also participates in the [[East Asia Summit]] (EAS), a pan-Asian forum held annually by the leaders of eighteen countries in the [[East Asia]]n region, with ASEAN in a leadership position. Initially, membership included all member states of ASEAN plus China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, and New Zealand, but was expanded to include the United States and Russia at the Sixth EAS in 2011, as they were also important players having dominance and influence over the region. The first summit was held in [[Kuala Lumpur]] on 14 December 2005, and subsequent meetings have been held after the annual ASEAN Leaders' Meeting. The summit has discussed issues including trade, [[energy]], and security and the summit has a role in [[East Asia Community|regional community building]].

Other meetings include the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting<ref name="ministry">[http://www.asean.org/89.htm ASEAN Ministerial Meetings], ASEAN Secretariat. Retrieved 13 March 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302194224/http://www.asean.org/89.htm |date=2 March 2012 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.asean.org/73.htm Asean.org], ASEAN Secretariat. Retrieved 16 March 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622232333/http://www.asean.org/73.htm |date=22 June 2012 }}</ref> that focus mostly on specific topics, such as defence or the environment,<ref>{{cite news|title=Malaysians have had enough of haze woes |url=http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/content/view/4967/2/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121219224631/http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/content/view/4967/2/ |archive-date=19 December 2012 |publisher=The Malaysian Bar |access-date=13 March 2007 }}</ref> and are attended by [[Minister (government)|ministers]]. The {{visible anchor|ASEAN Regional Forum}} (ARF), which met for the first time in 1994, fosters dialogue and consultation, and to promote confidence-building and preventive diplomacy in the region.<ref>[http://www.aseanregionalforum.org/Default.aspx?tabid=49 About Us] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725021423/http://www.aseanregionalforum.org/Default.aspx?tabid=49 |date=25 July 2013 }}, [http://www.aseanregionalforum.org/ ASEAN Regional Forum official website] . Retrieved 12 June 2006.</ref> As of July 2007, it consists of twenty-seven participants that include all ASEAN member states, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, the EU, India, Japan, North and South Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Timor-Leste, the United States, and Sri Lanka.<ref>{{cite web|title=ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)|url=http://www.dfat.gov.au/international-relations/regional-architecture/asean/pages/asean-regional-forum-arf.aspx|website=Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade|publisher=Government of Australia|access-date=12 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227150707/http://www.dfat.gov.au/international-relations/regional-architecture/asean/pages/asean-regional-forum-arf.aspx|archive-date=27 February 2015}}</ref> Taiwan has been excluded since the establishment of the ARF, and issues regarding the Taiwan Strait are neither discussed at ARF meetings nor stated in the ARF Chairman's Statements.

ASEAN also holds meetings with Europe during the [[Asia–Europe Meeting]] (ASEM), an informal dialogue process initiated in 1996 with the intention of strengthening co-operation between the countries of Europe and Asia, especially members of the [[European Union]] and ASEAN in particular.<ref>{{cite book |title=Asia and Europe: the development and different dimensions of ASEM |author=Lay Hwee Yeo |year=2003 |publisher=Routledge (UK) |isbn=978-0-415-30697-3 }}</ref> ASEAN, represented by its secretariat, is one of the forty-five ASEM partners. It also appoints a representative to sit on the governing board of [[Asia-Europe Foundation]] (ASEF), a socio-cultural organisation associated with the meeting. Annual bilateral meetings between ASEAN and India, Russia and the United States are also held.

Prior to 2012, ASEAN foreign ministerial statements were not typically contentious.<ref name="Loh"/>{{Rp|page=90}} Particularly as international disagreements over the South China Sea increased, the wording of ASEAN foreign ministerial statements became more politically contended.<ref name="Loh"/>{{Rp|pages=90–91}}

Following the [[2022 visit by Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan|2022 visit by United States Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan]], ASEAN and individual member states  reiterated their support of the [[One China]] policy.<ref name="Loh"/>{{Rp|page=89}}

On 12 November 2022, Ukrainian Foreign Minister [[Dmytro Kuleba]] urged ASEAN countries to abandon their neutrality and condemn Russia's [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Ukraine minister urges ASEAN bloc to stop Russia's 'hunger games' |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/12/ukraine-minister-urges-asean-bloc-to-stop-russias-hunger-games |work=Al Jazeera |date=12 November 2022}}</ref>

===Territorial disputes===
====South China Sea====
{{Main|Territorial disputes in the South China Sea}}
With perceptions that there have been [[Territorial disputes in the South China Sea|multiple incursions]] into the [[South China Sea]] by the PRC (China) and ROC (Taiwan), with land, islands and resources all having had previous overlapping claims between [[Vietnam]], [[Philippines]], [[Malaysia]], [[Brunei]], [[Indonesia]], and various other countries, the PRC and ROC's claim into the region is seen as intrusive by many Southeast Asian countries as of 2022, potentially a reflection of the threat of [[Chinese expansionism]] into the region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea |url=https://cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/territorial-disputes-south-china-sea |access-date=2022-07-25 |website=Global Conflict Tracker}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Stiffening the ASEAN spine in the South China Sea |url=https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/stiffening-asean-spine-south-china-sea |access-date=2022-07-25 |website=lowyinstitute.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/10/world/asia/indonesia-south-china-sea-military-buildup.html| title=Indonesia, Long on Sidelines, Starts to Confront China's Territorial Claims| newspaper=The New York Times| date=10 September 2017| last1=Cochrane| first1=Joe| access-date=20 October 2018| archive-date=30 September 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930053331/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/10/world/asia/indonesia-south-china-sea-military-buildup.html| url-status=live}}</ref>

Shortly after the conclusion of the [[South China Sea Arbitration]], at the 24 July 2016 China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers summit, China assured ASEAN that it would not conduct [[Land reclamation in China|land reclamation]] on the Scarborough Shoal.<ref name=":04">{{Cite book |last=Wang |first=Frances Yaping |title=The Art of State Persuasion: China's Strategic Use of Media in Interstate Disputes |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2024 |isbn=9780197757512}}</ref>{{Rp|page=129}} The joint statement at the conclusion of the summit emphasized the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and urged the parties to refrain from inhabiting currently unoccupied islands, reefs, shoals, cays, and other features.<ref name=":04"/>{{Rp|page=129}}

Within ASEAN, [[Cambodia–China relations|Cambodia]] is often supportive of the PRC's positions, including on the South China Sea issue.<ref name=":9222">{{Cite book |last=Gerstl |first=Alfred |title=Contemporary China: a New Superpower? |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2023 |isbn=978-1-03-239508-1 |editor-last=Kironska |editor-first=Kristina |chapter=China in its Immediate Neighborhood |editor-last2=Turscanyi |editor-first2=Richard Q.}}</ref>{{Rp|page=211}}

====Bilateral====
There have been [[territorial dispute]]s between ASEAN member states such as the [[Cambodian–Thai border dispute]] between Cambodia and Thailand, [[Cambodia–Vietnam relations#Recent events|Cambodian–Vietnamese border dispute]] between Cambodia and Vietnam,<ref>{{cite web| url=https://theaseanpost.com/article/lesser-known-border-tensions-between-cambodia-and-vietnam-0| title=Lesser known border tensions between Cambodia and Vietnam| work=theaseanpost.com| date=9 April 2018| access-date=5 February 2020| archive-date=4 February 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204234627/https://theaseanpost.com/article/lesser-known-border-tensions-between-cambodia-and-vietnam-0| url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[North Borneo dispute]] between the Philippines and Malaysia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/02/27/1557213/binay-pursue-territorial-claim-sabah-if-elected|title=Binay to pursue territorial claim to Sabah if elected| first1= Helen | last1= Flores| first2= Alexis | last2= Romero| work=The Philippine Star|date=27 February 2016|access-date=25 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325101019/http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/02/27/1557213/binay-pursue-territorial-claim-sabah-if-elected|archive-date= 25 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2479&dat=20000402&id=P1M1AAAAIBAJ&pg=2032,892348&hl=en|title=Marcos order: Destabilize, take Sabah|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=2 April 2000|access-date=19 June 2015|archive-date=30 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930053330/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2479&dat=20000402&id=P1M1AAAAIBAJ&pg=2032%2C892348&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/citing-militant-threats-on-sabah-bn-mp-tells-putrajaya-to-cut-diplomatic-ti|title=Citing militant threats on Sabah, BN MP tells Putrajaya to cut diplomatic ties to Manila|author= Yiswaree Palansamy|newspaper=The Malay Mail|date=15 March 2016|access-date=25 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325100426/http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/citing-militant-threats-on-sabah-bn-mp-tells-putrajaya-to-cut-diplomatic-ti|archive-date=25 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/malaysia-asks-philippines/2565596.html|title=Malaysia asks Philippines not to threaten ties over Sabah claim| first= Sumisha | last= Naidu|publisher=Channel NewsAsia|date=2 March 2016|access-date=25 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325095839/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/malaysia-asks-philippines/2565596.html|archive-date=25 March 2016}}</ref> The [[Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia]] in 1978, backed by the Soviet Union, was not accepted by ASEAN. They rejected it as a violation of the principles of regional integration. ASEAN cooperated with US and Australia to oppose Vietnam's move and it sponsored a Cambodian resolution in the United Nations General Assembly. ASEAN played a major role starting in 1980 in the peace process, leading to the 1991 Paris Agreement.

===Relations with other blocs===
[[File:ASEAN with Plus 3 and Plus 6.png|thumb|upright=1.8|
{{legend|#1743a6|ASEAN}}<!-- Blue -->
{{legend|#6330d5|ASEAN Plus Three}}<!-- Purple -->
{{legend|#0d675e|ASEAN Plus Six}}<!-- Teal -->
]]

====ASEAN Plus Three====
In 1990, Malaysia proposed the creation of an [[East Asia Economic Caucus]]<ref name="caucus">[http://www.asean.org/9303.htm East Asia Economic Caucus]. ASEAN Secretariat. Retrieved 14 March 2007. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302193928/http://www.asean.org/9303.htm|date=2 March 2012}}</ref> composed of the members of ASEAN, China, Japan, and South Korea. It intended to counterbalance the growing US influence in [[Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation]] (APEC) and Asia as a whole.<ref name="oppose">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060429002757/http://asiaviews.org/?content=ger53rger567664&voices=20060125184254 Asiaviews.org]}}, Whither East Asia? Retrieved 14 March 2007.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100605002320/http://digital.library.unt.edu/govdocs/crs//data/1993/upl-meta-crs-66/93-633f_1993Jun30.txt?PHPSESSID=f7a7ec622077fa19bfce9ec9def6f3d9 UNT.edu], Asia's Reaction to NAFTA, Nancy J. Hamilton. CRS – Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 14 March 2007.</ref> However, the proposal failed because of strong opposition from the US and Japan.<ref name="oppose"/><ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/1994/07/26/caucus.php IHT.com], Japan Straddles Fence on Issue of East Asia Caucus. [[International Herald Tribune]]. Retrieved 14 March 2007. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212201202/http://www.iht.com/articles/1994/07/26/caucus.php|date=12 February 2009}}</ref> Work for further integration continued, and the [[ASEAN Plus Three]],<ref name="aseanplusthree">[https://aseanplusthree.asean.org ASEAN Plus Three]</ref> consisting of ASEAN, China, Japan, and South Korea, was created in 1997.

[[ASEAN Plus Three]]<ref name="aseanplusthree"/> is a forum that functions as a coordinator of co-operation between the ASEAN and the three [[East Asia]]n nations of China, South Korea, and Japan. Government leaders, ministers, and senior officials from the ten members of the ASEAN and the three East Asian states consult on an increasing range of issues.<ref>[http://www.irchina.org/en/pdf/zxm06.pdf "The Rise of China and Community Building in East Asia"]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Zhang Xiaoming, ASIAN Perspective, Vol. 30, No. 3, 2006, pp. 129–148.</ref> The ASEAN Plus Three is the latest development of Southeast Asia-East Asia regional co-operation. In the past, proposals, such as South Korea's call for an Asian Common Market in 1970 and Japan's 1988 suggestion for an Asian Network, have been made to bring closer regional co-operation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aseansec.org/16580.htm |title=ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation|access-date=2016-04-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204162811/http://www.aseansec.org/16580.htm |archive-date=4 February 2012|url-status=usurped }}</ref>

The first leaders' meetings were held in 1996, and 1997 to deal with [[Asia–Europe Meeting]] issues, and China and Japan each wanted regular summit meetings with ASEAN members afterwards. The group's significance and importance were strengthened by the [[1997 Asian financial crisis]]. In response to the crisis, ASEAN closely cooperated with China, South Korea, and Japan. Since the implementation of the Joint Statement on East Asia Cooperation in 1999 at the Manila Summit, ASEAN Plus Three finance ministers have been holding periodic consultations.<ref>Stubbs, R. "ASEAN Plus Three: Emerging East Asian Regionalism?" n.d. web. 12 May 2012.</ref> ASEAN Plus Three, in establishing the [[Chiang Mai Initiative]], has been credited as forming the basis for financial stability in Asia,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aseansec.org/17902.pdf|title=Welcome To The World Of Smokeless Cigarettes!|author=atinder|work=E-Cigarette Review Council|access-date=28 April 2016|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716172317/http://www.aseansec.org/17902.pdf|archive-date=16 July 2011}}</ref> the lack of such stability having contributed to the [[1997 Asian financial crisis]].

Since the process began in 1997, ASEAN Plus Three has also focused on subjects other than finance such as the areas of food and energy security, financial co-operation, trade facilitation, disaster management, people-to-people contacts, narrowing the development gap, rural development, and poverty alleviation, human trafficking, labour movement, communicable diseases, environment and sustainable development, and [[transnational crime]], including counter-terrorism. With the aim of further strengthening the nations' co-operation, East Asia Vision Group (EAVG) II was established at the 13th ASEAN Plus Three Summit on 29 October 2010 in [[Hanoi]] to stock-take, review, and identify the future direction of the co-operation.

The ASEAN Plus Three framework also serves as a platform for the ASEAN affiliated intergovernmental organizations in China, Korea, and Japan to meet and cooperate. The [[ASEAN-China Centre]], the [[ASEAN-Japan Centre]], and [[ASEAN-Korea Centre]] currently convene annually to discuss ongoing projects and to discuss possible areas of cooperation vis-a-vis ASEAN.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.asean-china-center.org/english/2022-10/11397.html |title= Secretaries-General of ASEAN-China Centre, ASEAN-Japan Centre and ASEAN-Korea Centre Held 18th Informal Meeting |access-date=2024-05-07 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230923073442/http://www.asean-china-center.org/english/2022-10/11397.html |archive-date=23 September 2023 }}</ref>

====ASEAN Plus Six====
ASEAN Plus Three was the first of attempts for further integration to improve existing ties of Southeast Asia with [[East Asia]]n countries of China, Japan and South Korea. This was followed by the even larger [[East Asia Summit]] (EAS), which included ASEAN Plus Three as well as India, Australia, and New Zealand. This group acted as a prerequisite for the planned [[East Asia Community]] which was supposedly patterned after the [[European Community]] (now transformed into the [[European Union]]). The [[ASEAN Eminent Persons Group]] was created to study this policy's possible successes and failures.

The group became ASEAN Plus Six with Australia, New Zealand, and India, and stands as the linchpin of the [[Asia–Pacific]]'s economic, political, security, socio-cultural architecture, as well as the global economy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jcer.or.jp/eng/pdf/asia07.pdf |title=An ASEAN+6 Economic Partnership: Significance and Tasks |last=Urata |first=Shujiro |date=February 2008 |access-date=29 November 2018 |archive-date=30 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930053153/https://www.jcer.or.jp/eng/pdf/asia07.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/region_e/con_sep07_e/kawai_wignaraja_e.pdf |title=ASEAN+3 or ASEAN+6: Which Way Forward? |last1=Kawai |first1=Masahiro |last2=Wignaraja |first2=Ganeshan |access-date=29 November 2018 |archive-date=30 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930053202/https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/region_e/con_sep07_e/kawai_wignaraja_e.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Conclusion for Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership 'finally in sight': PM Lee |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/asean-regional-comprehensive-economic-partnership-pm-lee-10662722 |work=Channel NewsAsia |access-date=16 September 2018 |archive-date=16 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916164051/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/asean-regional-comprehensive-economic-partnership-pm-lee-10662722 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="East Asia Forum">{{cite news|url=http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/05/15/asean6-as-a-step-towards-an-asian-economic-community/|title=ASEAN+6 as a step towards an Asian Economic Community|date=15 May 2009|work=East Asia Forum|access-date=16 September 2018|archive-date=30 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930053206/https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/05/15/asean6-as-a-step-towards-an-asian-economic-community/|url-status=live}}</ref> Codification of the relations between these countries has seen progress through the development of the [[Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership]], a free-trade agreement involving the 15 countries of ASEAN Plus Six (excluding India). RCEP would, in part, allow the members to protect local sectors and give more time to comply with the aim for developed country members.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/tpp-rcep-ftaap-a-users-guide-to-alphabet-soup-of-trade-deals |title=TPP, RCEP, FTAAP – a user's guide to alphabet soup of trade deals |newspaper=The Straits Times |date=20 November 2016 |access-date=28 November 2016 |archive-date=30 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930053205/http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/tpp-rcep-ftaap-a-users-guide-to-alphabet-soup-of-trade-deals |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[India]] temporarily does not join the RCEP for the protection of its own market, but Japan, China, and ASEAN welcomes India's participation.<ref name="Chinese government official website. 1–25">{{cite web |url=http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2019-11/08/content_5450257.htm |script-title=zh:中方：无意追求对印度贸易顺差 欢迎印度尽早加入Rcep_滚动新闻_中国政府网 |script-website=zh:中国政府网_中央人民政府门户网站}}</ref>

[[Taiwan]] has been excluded from participating with the organization owing to China's influence on the [[Asia–Pacific]] through its economic and diplomatic influence.<ref name="Hsieh pp. 1–25">{{cite journal | last=Hsieh | first=Pasha L. | title=Rethinking non-recognition: Taiwan's new pivot to ASEAN and the one-China policy | journal=Cambridge Review of International Affairs | publisher=Informa UK Limited | date=2019-09-09 | volume=33 | issue=2 | issn=0955-7571 | doi=10.1080/09557571.2019.1657796 | pages=204–228 | s2cid=203301979 | url=https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sol_research/2953 | access-date=3 September 2020 | archive-date=30 September 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930053205/https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sol_research/2953/ | url-status=live }}</ref>