Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia

1976 treaty among Southeast Asian countries

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 10 countries located in Southeast Asia.

## History

[edit]

On 24 February 1976, the treaty was signed into force by the leaders of the original members of ASEAN.[1] 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,[2] and again on 25 July 1998, to condition such accession on the consent of all member states.[3] 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.[4] On 7 October 2003, during the annual summit, a declaration was released that says:[5]

"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. As of July 2009[update], 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.[6] 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[7][8][9] and joined accordingly on 12 July 2012.[10]

The treaty has been endorsed by the General Assembly stating that:[11]

"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

[edit]

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;[12]

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

[edit]

The following table lists the parties in the order of the dates on which they entered into the treaty:

No  | Country  | Date
1  |  Indonesia | 24 February 1976
2  |  Malaysia
3  |  Philippines
4  |  Singapore
5  |  Thailand
6  |  Brunei | 7 January 1984[13]
7  |  Papua New Guinea | 6 July 1989[14]
8  |  Laos | 29 June 1992[15]
9  |  Vietnam | 22 July 1992[16]
10  |  Cambodia | 23 January 1995[17]
11  |  Myanmar | 27 July 1995[18]
12  |  China | 8 October 2003[19][20]
13  |  India
14  |  Japan | 2 July 2004[21][22]
15  |  Pakistan
16  |  South Korea | 27 November 2004[23]
17  |  Russia | 29 November 2004[24]
18  |  New Zealand | 25 July 2005[25]
19  |  Mongolia | 28 July 2005[26]
20  |  Australia | 10 December 2005[27]
21  |  France | 20 July 2006[28]
22  |  Timor-Leste | 13 January 2007[29]
23  |  Bangladesh | 1 August 2007[30][31]
24  |  Sri Lanka
25  |  North Korea | 24 July 2008[32]
26  |  United States | 23 July 2009[33]
27  |  Canada | 23 July 2010[34][35]
28  |  Turkey
29  |  European Union | 12 July 2012[10][36][37]
30  |  United Kingdom
31  |  Brazil | 17 November 2012[38]
32  |  Norway | 1 July 2013[39]
33  |  Chile | 6 September 2016[40]
34  |  Egypt
35  |  Morocco
36  |  Argentina | 1 August 2018[41][42]
37  |  Iran
38  |  Peru | 31 July 2019[43]
39  |  Bahrain | 2 November 2019[44]
40  |  Germany
41  |  Colombia | 10 November 2020[45]
42  |  Cuba
43  |  South Africa
44  |  Denmark | 3 August 2022[46]
45  |  Greece
46  |  Netherlands
47  |  Oman
48  |  Qatar
49  |  United Arab Emirates
50  |  Ukraine | 10 November 2022[47]
51  |  Saudi Arabia | 12 July 2023[48]
52  |  Kuwait | 4 September 2023[49]
53  |  Panama
54  |  Serbia
55  |  Luxembourg | 10 October 2024[50]
56  |  Algeria | 9 July 2025[51]
57  |  Uruguay

Even though Spain was recognized as a member of the treaty on 10 November 2022,[52] 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.[53]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia". Archived from the original on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
2. ^ "Protocol Amending the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia". Archived from the original on 25 September 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2009.,
3. ^ "Second Protocol Amending the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia". Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
4. ^ "Rules of Procedure of the High Council of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia". Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2009.
5. ^ "Declaration of ASEAN Concord II (Bali Concord II)". Archived from the original on 25 September 2009. Retrieved 28 February 2009.
6. ^ "Beginning a New Era of Diplomacy in Asia". Archived from the original on 24 July 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
7. ^ "Joint Declaration of the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit". Retrieved 23 February 2009.[permanent dead link]
8. ^ "Explanatory Memorandum for the Treaty of Amity and Co-operation in Southeast Asia". Archived from the original on 24 January 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
9. ^ "Thailand and EU's Issues Consulted". Archived from the original on 28 February 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
10. ^ a b "The EU accedes to Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia" (Press release). Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
11. ^ "Review and implementation of the Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General Assembly". Archived from the original on 1 September 2005. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
12. ^ Forty-seventh session of the General Assembly A/C.1/47/L.24 30 October 1992 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2012.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
13. ^ "Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia". Retrieved 23 February 2009. [dead link]
14. ^ The Straits Times, "PNG is first 'outsider' to accede to Bali treaty," Singapore, 8 July 1989.
15. ^ "Declaration on the Admission of the Lao People's Democratic Republic into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations". Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2009. However, a United Nations document Archived 1 September 2005 at the Wayback Machine states that Laos acceded to the treaty on the same day as Vietnam, 22 July 1992. The reason for the discrepancy is not apparent.
16. ^ "Declaration of the Admission of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations". Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
17. ^ "Declaration on the Admission of the Kingdom of Cambodia into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations". Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
18. ^ "Declaration on the Admission of the Union of Myanmar into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations". Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
19. ^ "Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia". Archived from the original on 3 June 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
20. ^ "Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia". Archived from the original on 3 June 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
21. ^ "Japan Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia". Archived from the original on 4 September 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
22. ^ "The Islamic Republic of Pakistan Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia". Archived from the original on 4 September 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
23. ^ "Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia by Republic of Korea". Archived from the original on 3 June 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
24. ^ "Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia by Russian Federation". Archived from the original on 3 June 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
25. ^ "Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia by New Zealand". Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
26. ^ "Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia by Mongolia". Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
27. ^ "Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia by Australia". Archived from the original on 23 June 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
28. ^ "Declaration on the Deposit of the Instrument of Accession of the French Republic to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia". Archived from the original on 23 June 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2009. The instrument of accession was deposited half a year after it was signed.
29. ^ "Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia". Archived from the original on 23 June 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
30. ^ "Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia". Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
31. ^ "Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia by Sri Lanka". Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
32. ^ "Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast". Archived from the original on 26 January 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
33. ^ "U.S. Accession to ASEAN's Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 July 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
34. ^ Timberlake, Ian (24 July 2010). "Canada signs treaty with ASEAN, cites progress on rights". Google News. Agence France Presse. Archived from the original on 27 July 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
35. ^ "Information regarding Republic of Turkey's partnership on Turkish MFA's website". Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
36. ^ "Treaty of amity and cooperation in Southeast Asia as amended".
37. ^ "EU, UK Accede to Treaty of Amity, Cooperation in SE Asia". Archived from the original on 25 June 2018.
38. ^ "First Latin America Country Accedes to the Treaty of Amity & Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC)". Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN). 18 November 2012. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
39. ^ "Norway signs Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in South East Asia". July 2013. Archived from the original on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
40. ^ division2. "ASEAN welcomed the accession of Chile, Egypt and Morocco to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia". www.mofa.gov.la. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
41. ^ "MFA Press Statement: Visit by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of the Argentine Republic Jorge Faurie to Singapore, 31 July to 2 August 2018". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
42. ^ "Iran officially joins ASEAN treaty". 2 August 2018.
43. ^ "Signing Ceremony of the Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia by the Republic of Peru – ASEAN THAILAND 2019".
44. ^ "Signing Ceremony of the Instrument of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) by Bahrain and Germany – ASEAN THAILAND 2019". Retrieved 20 November 2022.
45. ^ "Colombia, Cuba, South Africa join ASEAN's Treaty of Amity, Cooperation". ANTARA News. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
46. ^ "Six more countries join amity, cooperation treaty in Southeast Asia". 3 August 2022.
47. ^ "Ukraine Joins ASEAN Friendship Circle". Cambodianess. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
48. ^ "Saudi Arabia Becomes 51st Country to Accede to TAC". ANTARA News. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
49. ^ "Panama, Serbia, Kuwait sign Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia". asean.org. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
50. ^ ""Luxembourg signs Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia."". asean.org. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
51. ^ "Secretary-General of ASEAN Attends the Signing Ceremony of the Instrument of Accession to the TAC by Algeria and Uruguay". asean.org. 9 July 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
52. ^ "FRESH NEWS: ASEAN recognizes Ukraine and Spain as members of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC)". 10 November 2022.
53. ^ "Spain Has Yet Signed the TAC, Says Spokesman (Video Inside)". FRESH NEWS. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* "Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia - Indonesia, 24 February 1976". Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Retrieved 30 November 2018.

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