White Paper: Southeast Asian Eyes (SEAE)
Executive Summary
The Southeast Asian Eyes (SEAE) is a concept for an Australian initiated, strategic intelligence-sharing initiative aimed at enhancing security, political stability, and economic integration across Southeast Asia. Modeled, in part, after the Five Eyes alliance, SEAE proposes a unified front among countries like India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand to address rising security threats such as piracy, transnational crime, and geopolitical tensions. SEAE seeks to promote cooperation in intelligence-sharing, border security, marine protection, and regional sovereignty. This paper outlines the benefits, challenges, and strategic imperatives of SEAE, emphasizing its potential as an alternative to existing pacts like @AUKUS, which are limited by conditional guarantees and may not fully align with Australia’s or Southeast Asian nations' strategic interests.
Introduction
The strategic landscape of Southeast Asia is evolving rapidly, marked by the diverse defense postures of its nations. While regional countries focus on bolstering their defenses independently, Australia's approach is distinctively tethered through a "defense alliance with the USA." This agreement, unlike the unconditional collective defense clause in NATO that declares "an attack on one is an attack on all," stipulates US support only if it aligns with the "will of the people and the current president." Such a conditional promise mirrors the uncertainties seen in the Ukrainian and Israeli defense scenarios—pacts with no assured outcomes.
Recent discussions highlight growing skepticism among Australian leaders regarding the reliability of US support. Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has publicly questioned Washington's willingness to fulfill its obligations under the AUKUS pact, particularly concerning the sale of Virginia-class submarines. He points out that U.S. legislative provisions require presidential certification that such sales do not compromise the needs of the US Navy—a clear nod to political pragmatism over steadfast alliance commitments.
Further criticisms from former Prime Minister Paul Keating and former NSW Premier Bob Carr underscore deeper apprehensions about Australia’s strategic autonomy. Keating has provocatively described Australia's role in AUKUS as potentially reducing it to the "51st state of the United States," voicing concerns over Australia becoming an inadvertent target in the geopolitical tug-of-war with China, particularly over issues like Taiwan, which he regards as "Chinese real estate" and not a vital Australian interest. Similarly, Bob Carr has drawn parallels with the Vietnam War to illustrate the risks of a forward defense strategy that could entangle Australia in protracted foreign conflicts.
These viewpoints form a crucial backdrop for proposing the Southeast Asian Eyes (SEAE) initiative. SEAE aims to foster a regional intelligence-sharing and security cooperation framework that respects the sovereignty and strategic priorities of Southeast Asian nations and Australia, independent of external power dynamics. This alliance seeks to reinforce regional stability, enhance collaborative defense capabilities, and ensure that each member’s security interests are supported by mutual understanding and respect, countering the over-dependence on conditional alliances.
SEAE offers an alternative approach to safeguarding sovereignty and promoting long-term stability.
Framework for Cooperation
The SEAE framework is built on leveraging existing bilateral and multilateral relationships between Southeast Asian countries. Countries like Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand are already involved in regional cooperation through ASEAN. SEAE seeks to enhance this cooperation by creating a structured framework for intelligence sharing, disaster response, and marine protection. SEAE will operate as a collective defense mechanism with joint training programs, secure communication networks, and regular summit meetings.
Member countries will collaborate to address both traditional security threats, such as military conflict and piracy, and non-traditional threats, such as human trafficking, illegal fishing, and environmental disasters.
SEAE will also provide technological support, such as satellite surveillance and maritime monitoring systems, to enhance maritime domain awareness (MDA).
This framework will ensure that all participating nations have an equal stake in regional security and autonomy. By building on ASEAN’s frameworks, SEAE will focus on intelligence-sharing agreements, joint exercises, and operational readiness for a variety of security challenges, including real-time data sharing on security risks and threats to maritime safety.
Potential Benefits
SEAE offers a variety of benefits across multiple domains:
1. Enhanced Regional Security and Stability
By sharing intelligence and security resources, SEAE members can better respond to security challenges such as terrorism, piracy, and transnational crime. This collective response can be more coordinated and effective, reducing the need for external intervention.
2. Marine and Fisheries Protection
Southeast Asia is heavily dependent on maritime routes for trade and economic growth, but illegal fishing and piracy pose threats to marine biodiversity and economic stability. SEAE will foster cooperative efforts to monitor and protect these resources, drawing on advanced technologies such as vessel tracking systems (VMS) and satellite imagery.
3. Economic and Political Sovereignty
SEAE offers an opportunity to enhance economic integration and strengthen political sovereignty. By acting as a unified bloc in trade negotiations, member countries can achieve better terms in global markets. Politically, SEAE allows member countries to assert their regional autonomy and resist external pressures, particularly from China and the United States, which have competing interests in the region.
4. Enhanced Intra-Regional Trade
SEAE can foster greater economic integration by facilitating infrastructure development and investment in Southeast Asia’s less-developed economies, ensuring balanced growth and reducing disparities among member states.
Challenges and Considerations
While SEAE presents many advantages, it also faces significant challenges.
Key issues include:
1. Divergent National Interests
Southeast Asian nations vary in their political systems, economic priorities, and external alliances. For SEAE to succeed, it must accommodate these differences and find common ground in security and economic policies.
2. Geopolitical Pressures
Southeast Asia is a region where major powers, including the United States and China, have strategic interests. The ability of SEAE to maintain regional autonomy without alienating external powers will be a critical challenge. China's assertive actions in the South China Sea, for example, create tensions that SEAE must navigate carefully. SEAE’s strength will depend on its ability to diplomatically manage relations with these major powers while ensuring that member states remain united in addressing regional security issues.
3. Economic Disparities
Member countries within SEAE have different levels of economic development, which could lead to unequal benefits. Smaller, less developed countries may require more support to fully participate in SEAE’s programs and initiatives. Addressing these disparities through capacity-building initiatives and shared technological resources will be key to fostering a sense of collective ownership.
Conclusion
The Southeast Asian Eyes (SEAE) initiative CONCEPT presents a unique opportunity for Southeast Asian nations to CONSIDER strengthening their security, enhance their political sovereignty, and promote regional stability through collective intelligence sharing and cooperation. By aligning its objectives with regional interests rather than external powers, SEAE provides a more autonomous and collaborative approach to addressing security challenges in the region. Its success will rely on member nations’ ability to overcome their differences and work towards shared goals. In doing so, SEAE could become a pivotal force for peace and prosperity in Southeast Asia.