Causes of Inter-state tensions in Southeast Asia

Overview: The main cause for tensions and disputes between the SEA countries was
because they had diverging national interests that affected their foreign polic
y. The foreign policies of the countries were not always in sync with each other
and sometimes had more violent tendencies. National interest > Regional interes
t The reason for conflict might seem to be something trivial. However, there are
also underlying long-standing and deeply-rooted animosities between the countri
es. (Note: Long-term tensions versus Trigger factors) Reasons for conflict/ What
are the conflicts based on: Ideological/ Security Concerns Territorial disputes
Leadership (Racial tensions) disputes Pedra Branca Issue Chaim Herzog crisis Se
paration in 1965 Malaysia published a (1986) from Federation of map in 1979 that
Israeli president Malaysia included Pedra visited Singapore Malay-Malaysia Bran
ca as part of Diplomatic protests versus Malaysian Malaysias territory from Brune
i, Malaysia when actually Indonesia and Singapore made up of Singapore was Malay
sia predominantly primarily responsible Anti-Singapore Chinese population for th
e offshore demonstrations held versus Malaysias islands maintenance. in Malaysia (
burning Malay population. (Including of effigies of LKY and Malaysian leaders in
vestigating marine of Singapore flag) feared Chinese accidents in the Mahathir t
ook the Communist threat in vicinity and planning visit as a personal Singapore.
land reclamation insult because he BN sought to take works) openly denounced pa
rt in Singapore Submitted the Zionism elections to
Country conflicts Malaysia-Singapore
Historical animosities Historical links between Sg and My Joint British administ
ration led to a measure of indivisibility of political and security interests. M
eant that the destinies of Malaysia and Singapore were tied very closely togethe
r and the actions of one would inevitably affect the other.
Economic disputes (Including Resources, legal issues, etc) Water Issue Singapore
reliant on Malaysia for water supply. Malaysia frequently uses this point as le
verage for foreign policy dealings with Singapore. Economic Parasite? Malaysia v
iews Singapore as an economic parasite without own resources for production and
yet prospered by taking

Setting up of SAF Increased tensions as Singapore was asserting its independence

(might be construed as arrogance). SAF training, doctrine and methods based on
Israel (Singapore = Israel, contained in hostile Muslim area?)
territorial to the judgement of the ICJ. Up till now, even when Singapore was ac
corded the sovereignty of Pedra Branca, Malaysian officials said that they were
already looking for more historical evidence to dispute the claim. Dispute over
Airspace Singapore has to now on training facilities in Australia and New Zealan
d
champion Malay rights in Singapore PAP retaliated by partaking in 1964 Federal e
lections in Malaysia Ethno-religious differences Malaysia: Empower Malays Singap
ore: Multiculturalism, Multireligious Contrast between ethnic compositions and d
evelopment provide fertile ground for inflammatory tension Malaysias unity with C
hinese dominated Singapore was a threat to Indonesia as it was felt that Malaysi
a might succumb to Chinese Communist takeover, threatening the sovereignty of In
donesia (due to the close geographical proximity).
advantage of the resources of neighbouring countries
Malaysia-Indonesia (Konfrontasi) After Federation of Malaysia was to include Sin
gapore, Sabah and Sarawak. Coercive diplomacy: military harassment and diplomati
c campaign preventing the formation of Malaysia Ended in 1966 when
Indonesia sees itself as dominant power in the SEA region due to its land, area
and population and proud of its anti-colonial heritage: revolution against the D
utch. Therefore, unhappy with formation of ASA (touted/ initiated by Malaysia).
Indonesia thus has a
The ancient Srivijaya and Majapahit empires used to include Malaya, Borneo, Timo
r and Papua New Guinea.
Guided Democracy versus Neocolonialism Sukarno believed that real independence c
ould only be achieved through revolutionary struggle and severing of links with
the colonial powers. (Expelled Dutch nationals and appropriated their assets)
Other factors: Merely an attempt by Sukarno to divert the attention to domestic
economic and social problems by highlighting the external crisis (creating a com
mon enemy of the people). Also to strengthen Indonesian nationalism.

Suharto took over the leadership However, tensions already surfaced and hung ove
r further political relations between the sides.
more submissive role in the organisation. Attempts to assert leadership in the r
egion via Konfrontasi.
Still MalaysiaIndonesian
Formation of Federation of Malaysia not acceptable as it was not via revolution
but by the release of the British. (Malaysia continued to maintain economic ties w
ith the British) Konfrontasi was thus a necessary campaign against neocolonialis
m. Vagueness over Mahathir versus ownership of Ligitan Suharto in fight for and
Sipadan islands dominant leadership off the Sabah/ of the region Kalimantan coas
t. Mahathir: Champion Unclear historical of 3rd world interests ownership led to
both and causes. Antiparties fighting for it. West. Indonesia claimed it Indone
sia: moderated after independence. Cambodian But Malaysia claimed movement in 19
88 them to access chaired OPEC in petroleum resources 1990s, pilgrimage to aroun
d the islands Mecca to strengthen and to create ties with OIC. maritime buffer s
pace. 1991, Indonesia issued warning Malaysia against heightened
Illegal immigrants from Indonesia to Malaysia Initial tolerance due to cheap lab
our in demand. Low growth led to less sympathy from government. Uncovered caches
of weapons in illegal immigrant squatters. Occasional riots occurred. Threat to
states peace and stability. (2nd largest illegal immigrants, after Mexico-US) Ma
laysia responded with hire Indonesian

Malaysia-Philippines
tourism development on the islands. Threatened Malaysia with gunboat diplomacy.
Dispute over Sabah Sabah was part of the Sultanate of Sulu. Territorial division
of Philippines was determined by the Americans during colonisation and did not
include Sabah. Sabah became a colony of the British when the British North Borne
o company leased Sabah and Sarawak to the British. After decolonisation, Philipp
ines wanted to reclaim Sabah. When Malaysia was formed, tensions increased. Phil
ippines severed ties with Malaysia. Corregidor Affair in 1968 News leaked out th
at Filipino Muslims were
last policy, border patrols, stricter laws.
Philippines claim that Malaysia had been supporting the Muslim separatist moveme
nt, the Moros. They are an ethnic insurgency group that had been seeking autonom
y and political independence in the south of Philippines. Malaysia is supposedly
supporting them in training camps in Sabah. Encouragement of the Moros has esca
lated the conflict to a war of liberation and demands for selfdetermination.

receiving training to infiltrate Sabah. Heightened tensions between the sides. M

alaysian-Thailand Alleged Malaysian support for Malay Muslim separatist rebels i
n South Thailand. High Malay density in these areas. PAS admitted support becaus
e of supposed discrimination against Malays in Southern Thailand. (There were al
so calls for the 4 provinces to be included in the new Malaysia.) Historical mem
ories of Thai-Burmese rivalry, Burmese assault on Thai Kingdom in 17th century d
eeply ingrained in minds of Thai population. Thai media and education system fre
quently portrayed Myanmar as national enemy for several decades. Myanmar governm
ent troops pursued insurgencies across into Thailands Mai Hong Son province. Led
to regular artillery duels between Myanmar and Thailand. Threatened Thailands bor
ders. Tensions exacerbated when Thailand critical Illegal logging in Thai forest
s by officials from Kelantan. (1991) Politically sensitive when involving crossb
order illegal logging as it involves the acquisition of resources of another sta
te.
Thailand-Myanmar
Illegal fishing by Thailand Thailand has the largest trawler fleet (2000 trawler
s in Gulf of Siam) Operate outside territorial waters, infringing on both Myanma
r and even Malaysia waters. Also, Thai trawler captains made situation worse

Image of Burma shaped Thai foreign policy.

of Myanmars military junta and had to host 100,000 Karen refugees in camps along
border.
by purchasing licensee to fish in Myanmar waters and even duplicated these licen
ses! (Even when this was banned, illegal fishing still carried on...)
Question types:
Traditional versus Non-traditional?
Traditional: Historical, Territorial Non-traditional: Security, Economic/ Legal,
Leadership/ Political
Result of Colonial legacy?
Territorial Leadership Historical Security Economic Result of Colonial legacy Di
spute over Sabah Indonesias anti-neo-colonialism stance versus Pro-west attitudes
Singapore and Malaysias merger (as pre-requisite to independence) and later spli
t Not result of Colonial legacy Pedra Branca Singapore versus Malaysia over Isra
eli links Thai-Myanmar animosity Moros of Philippines (w. Malaysia) Myanmar incu
rsions into Thailand Illegal Immigrants (Indo-Malaysia) Illegal logging (Thailan
d- Malaysia) Illegal fishing (Thailand- Myanmar)