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The United States and the Creation of the ARF: Hegemonic Approach toward the Post-Cold War Asian Security Order, 1990–1994

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Abstract

The chairman’s statement announced immediately after the inaugural meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Bangkok predictably hailed the first ARF meeting as “a historical event for the region.”1 In concert with the chairman’s statement, the representative of the US government also praised the significance of the creation of the ARF, stating, “In the years to come, we believe that this Regional Forum can play a historic role in conveying intentions, easing suspicions, building confidence, and ultimately, averting conflicts.”2 At the same time, however, the American officials, in less formal circumstances, wondered whether the ARF would “be able to produce anything concrete and become more than an international talk shop and paper mill.”3 Conspicuously, furthermore, the US government indeed failed to send its highest foreign policy official, Secretary of State Warren Christopher, to the meeting, throwing a little cold water on the excitement of other participants towards what they claimed as a “historic” event.

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Notes

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© 2013 Kuniko Ashizawa

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Ashizawa, K. (2013). The United States and the Creation of the ARF: Hegemonic Approach toward the Post-Cold War Asian Security Order, 1990–1994. In: Japan, the US, and Regional Institution-Building in the New Asia. Asia Today. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137307743_6

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