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| Former Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, center, ASEAN-Korea Centre Secretary General Lee Hyuk, left, and Indonesian Ambassador to South Korea Umar Hadi pose during a ceremony to mark the publication of the Korean translation of Natalegawa's book, "Does ASEAN Matter?" at the ASEAN-Korea Centre in downtown Seoul, Nov. 12. The book was first published in English last year. / Korea Times photo by Yi Whan-woo |
By Yi Whan-woo
The impact of U.S.-China relations is felt in virtually every corner of the world, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is no exception. But other disputes, such as those between South Korea and Japan also affect the Association.
Former Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa explores these effects in his book "Does ASEAN Matter?" recently translated into Korean.
First published in English last year, the book provides an insight into ASEAN's search for security and prosperity with its interests increasingly influenced by complex dynamics of power.
ASEAN, according to Natalegawa, should not underestimate the potential influence of "geographical variables" and should take the presence of the U.S., China and Russia in the region into account.
These variables could possibly put ASEAN centrality to the test.
One such geographical variable is relations between South Korea and Japan. Territorial and historical disputes could worsen relations between the two U.S. allies.
If so, the frozen Seoul-Tokyo ties could deal a blow to Washington's Asia-Pacific security network, and have repercussions for ASEAN.
Natalegawa points out the complex relations between South Korea and China should not be overlooked either.
The two East Asian neighbors are close economic partners and resent Japan's wartime past.
But they have different views on the growing U.S. military presence in the region, ostensibly to defend against North Korea. This includes the deployment of the THAAD missile defense system, which is viewed by China as a means to spy on its military activities.
In "Does ASEAN Matter?" Natalegawa notes that inter-Korean relations are characterized by animosity and distrust on the one hand and "sharing the same blood" on the other.
The publication of the Korean translation of the book coincided with the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-South Korea relations.
On Nov. 12, the ASEAN-Korea Centre and the Embassy of Indonesia in Seoul jointly hosted a ceremony to celebrate its publication.
The celebration took place at the ASEAN-Korea Centre, a Seoul-based organization tasked with promoting exchanges between the two sides, mainly in the areas of trade, culture, tourism and academia.
Natalegawa was joined by ASEAN-Korea Centre Secretary General Lee Hyuk, Indonesian Ambassador to South Korea Umar Hadi and other ASEAN diplomats here.
Natalegawa was the foreign minister from 2009 to 2014. He currently is a member of the U.N. Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Board on Mediation
He served in various positions after joining the diplomatic service in 1986. They include permanent representative to the United Nations and ambassadorships in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
