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The Issue Development of Counter Terrorism under APEC

Johnny C. ChiangTaiwan Institute of Economic Research Chinese Taipei

Questions

! After 911, counter terrorism has become an important issue in APEC.

! How has the issue developed?! Why? What are key factors behind the

development?! How the issue development could/would

affect the APEC?

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APEC before 911

! The purpose of establishing the APEC was to facilitate “economic cooperation” in the Asia Pacific.

! Although there had been different expectations regarding the role of APEC: beyond economic to political or security realms.

! Before 911, most APEC members still maintained that APEC should focus on economic affairs and leave security issues to ARF.

! Even though APEC ever touched on such issues as East Timor, before 911 APEC had never ever issued any formal consensus or statement on political or security issues.

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APEC after 911

! The 911 incident transformed APEC which had never formally discussed security issues.

! Oct. 2001: APEC leaders’ summit issued “APEC Leaders Statement on Counter APEC Leaders Statement on Counter TerrorismTerrorism,” which regards terrorism as murderous deeds and threat to APEC’svision and prosperity.

! First time to have such kind of statement on non-economic issue.

2002

! Counter-terrorism issue became part of agenda in various kinds of APEC meetings.

! 2002 Leaders’ Meeting issued a new statement: LeadersLeaders’’ statement on fighting statement on fighting terrorism and promoting growthterrorism and promoting growth.

! More richer and concrete: including supporting the STAR initiative and enhancing capacity building.

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2003

! Promoting and implementing the initiatives! The first STAR conference held in Bangkok.! Establishing APEC counter-terrorism task

force (CTTF) after 2003 SOM I.! APEC counter-terrorism action plan passed.

! A series of counter-terrorism capacity building activities: like maritime security conference, anti-money laundering workshop

! In addition, SARS outbreak and US-Iraq war increased APEC’s further concern about bio-terrorism, health security and WMD

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! Leaders integrated the statement on counter terrorism into regular Leaders’ statement under the title of “Enhancing Human Security,” rather than issuing a separate statement.

! More importantly , Leaders “pledged to discuss at each Leaders’ Meeting our progress toward these security commitments.”

2004

! Overall, 2003 APEC set the development framework of counter-terrorism issue under APEC.

! In 2004 APEC held the second STAR conference and a series of CTTF meetings.

! Since this, the issue development of counter terrorism has become more concrete and gone into the phase of implementation.

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! The issue of counter terrorism under APEC has included maritime security, aviation security, trade security, financial security, passenger security, health security, energy security, and so on.

! The CTTF was also given two-year extension to 2006.

2005

! STAR III conference held in Korea focusing on the balance between trade and security, cooperation in capacity building, and public-private cooperation.

! Esp. encouraging active participation by the private sector.

! Making future programs more attractive to the private sector.

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! 6th meeting of CTTF held on 1 March agreed work plan and revised CTTF TOR.

! Discussed new proposals: airport vulnerabilities and counter-measures; immigration security project, handling of radioactive sources, capacity building on export controls

! 19 economies submitted their updated CTAPs.

Key Factors behind the Development

! Overall, counter terrorism in APEC has developed from none to a major issue, from a single statement to action plan, task force, and STAR conferences.

! But, why? What are major reasons contributing to this development?

! There are following factors which might be relevant to this development.

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1. Threat of New Terrorism

! As Brian Jenkins argues, terrorism is a changing threat. Terrorism has been undergoing some transformations since the end of the Cold War.

! Motivation getting complicated! Technological terrorism! Networking and localizing! Diversifying targets! Globalizing impacts

2. US Counter-Terrorism Diplomacy

! Although Bush Doctrine is unilateral orientation, bilateral and multilateral support are key to war on terrorism.

! Bush has stressed that “the defeat of terror requires an international coalition of unprecedented scope and cooperation.”

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! US coordinator for CT Cofer Black stated “war on terrorism would not have been possible without intense diplomatic engagement,” and “diplomacy is the backbone of the campaign…”

! APEC is the key multilateral platform in the Asia Pacific.

3. Self interests of APEC Economies

! APEC economies have their own interests in countering terrorism, including political, security, and economic interests.

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4. Economic Impact of Terrorism

! 911 caused 25-35 US$billion lost for American economy according to the World Bank.

! On average, the impact of 911 on world economy growth rate was about -0.9-1.1%.

! The key is that terrorist attacks would cause the expectation of more violence, which in turn would undermine the confidence on economy and security.

! In other words, counter terrorism and security and prosperity cannot be separated.

! Counter-terrorism measures and cooperation have thus become necessary to economic growth.

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5. The Impact of APEC Process

! APEC process has its own features: voluntarism, consensus, nonbinding, and leaders’ summits.

! Given these features, “21－X” or “pathfinder”approach increasingly allows active members to initiate new issues or cooperation.

! Security issues like counter terrorism thus can be initiated by the US and developed.

Impact of Counter-Terrorism Issue on APEC

1. APEC becomes the platform for counter-terrorism cooperation in the Asia Pacific

! Comparing to the ARF, APEC has delivered more in countering terrorism in the region.

! But, this does not mean that in the future APEC will deal with traditional geopliticaland security issues (like territorial disputes, civil wars, or military balance)

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2. Emphasizing cooperation in economic security

! Traditionally, economic growth could reduce political confrontation, military conflicts, or other differences. However, can economic growth sustain without secure environment?

! After 911, the linkage and interaction between economy and security has become an important issue in APEC agenda.

3. Strengthening the influence of Leaders’ Meetings

! After leaders issuing statements, counter terrorism has become a priority issue for APEC and been integrated into the existing APEC agenda.

! Although APEC Leaders’ Meeting is informal and not institutionalized, the influence of Leaders’ Meeting has been proved and enhanced via the issue development of counter terrorism.

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4. APEC Reform! Emergent issues like 911 and SARS have

challenged APEC’s ability of coping with rapidly changing international political economy.

! Also worrying about the increase of non-economic issues such as anti-terrorism will affect the core issues of APEC and APEC’smechanism.

! The issue of APEC reform was thus brought up in 2003.

Conclusions

! Whether APEC can touch upon security related issues is not a concern for APEC anymore.

! Whether there are underlying factors and sufficient consensus is actually the key.

! Any change of above-mentioned factors might bring about different consequences to APEC.

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! But, while countering terrorism, economic security associated with business cost, liberalization and facilitation, has become an urgent and must issue for APEC.

! By examining APEC’s counter-terrorism issue, it is also clear that APEC is a very dynamic institution, particularly in the issue evolution. APEC is also very sensitive and responsive to the changing world environment.

The End

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