# Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia

The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) is a peace treaty among Southeast Asian countries established by the founding members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a geo-political and economic organisation of 10 countries located in Southeast Asia.

## History

On 24 February 1976, the treaty was signed into force by the leaders of the original members of ASEAN. Other members acceded to it upon or before joining the bloc. It was amended on 15 December 1987 by a protocol to open the document for accession by states outside Southeast Asia, and again on 25 July 1998, to condition such accession on the consent of all member states. On 23 July 2001, the parties established the rules of procedure of the treaty's High Council, which was stipulated in Article 14 of the document. On 7 October 2003, during the annual summit, a declaration was released that says:
    "A High Council of [the treaty] shall be the important component in the ASEAN Security Community since it reflects ASEAN's commitment to resolve all differences, disputes and conflicts peacefully."
Papua New Guinea was the first country outside ASEAN to sign the treaty in 1989. As of July 2009, sixteen countries outside the bloc have acceded to the treaty. On 22 July 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed the TAC on behalf of the United States. The European Union announced in 2009 its intention to accede as soon as the treaty would be amended to allow for the accession of non-states and joined accordingly on 12 July 2012.
The treaty has been endorsed by the General Assembly stating that:
    "The purposes and principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and its provisions for the pacific settlement of regional disputes and for regional co-operation to achieve peace, amity and friendship among the peoples of Southeast Asia [are] in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations."

## Principles

The purpose of the Treaty is to promote perpetual peace, everlasting amity and co-operation among the people of Southeast Asia which would contribute to their strength, solidarity, and closer relationship. In their relations with one another, the High Contracting Parties shall be guided by the following fundamental principles;
    a. mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identity of all nations,
    b. the right of every State to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion or coercion,
    c. non-interference in the internal affairs of one another,
    d. settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful means,
    e. renunciation of the threat or use of force, and
    f. effective co-operation among themselves.

## Parties

The following table lists the parties in the order of the dates on which they entered into the treaty:
Date :
| 1 | Indonesia | 24 February 1976 |
| 2 | Malaysia | 24 February 1976 |
| 3 | Philippines | 24 February 1976 |
| 4 | Singapore | 24 February 1976 |
| 5 | Thailand | 24 February 1976 |
| 6 | Brunei | 7 January 1984 |
| 7 | Papua New Guinea | 6 July 1989 |
| 8 | Laos | 29 June 1992 |
| 9 | Vietnam | 22 July 1992 |
| 10 | Cambodia | 23 January 1995 |
| 11 | Myanmar | 27 July 1995 |
| 12 | China | 8 October 2003 |
| 13 | India | 8 October 2003 |
| 14 | Japan | 2 July 2004 |
| 15 | Pakistan | 2 July 2004 |
| 16 | South Korea | 27 November 2004 |
| 17 | Russia | 29 November 2004 |
| 18 | New Zealand | 25 July 2005 |
| 19 | Mongolia | 28 July 2005 |
| 20 | Australia | 10 December 2005 |
| 21 | France | 20 July 2006 |
| 22 | Timor-Leste | 13 January 2007 |
| 23 | Bangladesh | 1 August 2007 |
| 24 | Sri Lanka | 1 August 2007 |
| 25 | North Korea | 24 July 2008 |
| 26 | United States | 23 July 2009 |
| 27 | Canada | 23 July 2010 |
| 28 | Turkey | 23 July 2010 |
| 29 | European Union | 12 July 2012 |
| 30 | United Kingdom | 12 July 2012 |
| 31 | Brazil | 17 November 2012 |
| 32 | Norway | 1 July 2013 |
| 33 | Chile | 6 September 2016 |
| 34 | Egypt | 6 September 2016 |
| 35 | Morocco | 6 September 2016 |
| 36 | Argentina | 1 August 2018 |
| 37 | Iran | 1 August 2018 |
| 38 | Peru | 31 July 2019 |
| 39 | Bahrain | 2 November 2019 |
| 40 | Germany | 2 November 2019 |
| 41 | Colombia | 10 November 2020 |
| 42 | Cuba | 10 November 2020 |
| 43 | South Africa | 10 November 2020 |
| 44 | Denmark | 3 August 2022 |
| 45 | Greece | 3 August 2022 |
| 46 | Netherlands | 3 August 2022 |
| 47 | Oman | 3 August 2022 |
| 48 | Qatar | 3 August 2022 |
| 49 | United Arab Emirates | 3 August 2022 |
| 50 | Ukraine | 10 November 2022 |
| 51 | Saudi Arabia | 12 July 2023 |
| 52 | Kuwait | 4 September 2023 |
| 53 | Panama | 4 September 2023 |
| 54 | Serbia | 4 September 2023 |
| 55 | Luxembourg | 10 October 2024 |
Even though Spain was recognized as a member of the treaty on 10 November 2022, they have yet to ratify their accession. Secretary of state at Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kung Phoak stated that Spain's efforts to join the treaty are moving slowly.