Final Report
The Network of East Asian Think-Tanks (NEAT) Working Group:
Overall Architecture of Community Building in East Asia –Regional Architectures for Non-Traditional Security and Environmental Cooperation inEast Asia
June 13-14, 2007, Tokyo, Japan

Introduction
The NEAT Working Group (WG) on Overall Architecture of Community Building in East
Asia met on June 13 and 14, 2007 in Tokyo, Japan, with 21 participants from the 13 NEAT
member countries.
In the previous meeting of this WG in April 2006, discussions focused on non-traditional
security issues (with particular emphasis on transnational crimes), environmental degradation,and pandemic threats. Recognizing that these are cross-border issues that pose common
regional challenges and require the promotion of regional cooperation, the WG called for thestrengthening of regional cooperative mechanisms based on the existing framework ofASEAN+3 (APT).
Based on this prior consensus, the WG meeting in 2007 provided the venue for intensive andproductive discussions on the above challenges with the idea of promoting the ASEAN
Secretariat as the hub of policy making and regional cooperation. The WG envisions theeffective utilization of the APT framework to promote functional cooperation among member
countries, and the leading role of the ASEAN Secretariat in initiating, coordinating andrealizing regional cooperation.

Architecture to Promote Cooperation on Non-Traditional Security Issues (with emphasis
on Transnational Crimes)
1 The WG discussed five issues: (a) ASEAN efforts to combat transnational crimes since thedeclaration of ASEAN Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Crime in 1999; (2) Trafficking
in persons (TIP); (3) Cyber security cooperation; (4) Illicit drugs; and (5) Counter-terrorism
cooperation. The following proposals were made:1-1 The WG respects the prioritization of the four agendas set by the ASEAN Secretariat.
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These are: counter-terrorism, TIP, illicit drugs, and money-laundering. Prioritizing theseagendas does not preclude the promotion of cooperation on other types of transnationalcrimes.
1-2 The WG underscores the importance of legal harmonization among member countries inorder to standardize counter-measures against transnational crimes. Existing differencesamong APT countries concerning the definition of crimes—for example, “trafficking,”“smuggling,” and “terrorism”—should be resolved to facilitate effective multilateralcooperation.
1-3 The WG urges APT leaders to initiate specific programs in line with the ASEAN Plan ofAction and the 2002 Kuala Lumpur Declaration (on the Work Program to Implement theASEAN Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Crime). There are already a number ofexisting agreements and declarations regarding transnational crimes. What is needed is totranslate words into action. The WG urges the implementation of regional cooperation
programs for (a) financial assistance; (b) capacity building; (c) technical assistance; (d) legalassistance; (5) the sharing of best practices; and (6) border-management.
1-4 In developing the regional cooperation programs above, the WG expects the ASEAN
Secretariat to play the leading role; for this reason, the WG proposes that the capabilities of
the Secretariat be enhanced, especially in terms of human capacity and financial resources.
1-5 The WG recognizes that collaboration with local communities is crucial to efforts atcombating transnational crimes. In particular, the WG advocates the establishment ofnetworks that include concerned NGOs and local community organizations for the purpose ofproviding support for the victims of transnational crimes. As a first step, the WG calls for theestablishment of an Anti-TIP Task Force involving both Track-1 and Track-2 people tofacilitate networking with local communities in the region and to increase public awareness ofthese crimes.
1-6 The WG encourages East Asian academics and public intellectuals to initiate research andother collaborative activities concerning non-traditional security issues in the region and todisseminate their findings and policy recommendations to the public.

Architecture to Promote Environmental Protection
2 The WG discussed five issues: (a) the need for developing concrete projects to tackle such
issues as acid rain, global warming, air pollution, marine (river) contamination, and2

deforestation; (b) haze; (c) emission of greenhouse gas and the problem of climate change; (d)environmental degradation in the Greater Mekong Sub-region; and (e) pollution and forest
protection in Borneo/Kalimantan. The following proposals were made:2-1 The APT should establish mechanisms for regional environmental cooperation bydeveloping existing ASEAN frameworks such as AMME/AMME+3, ASOEN, AMAF, ASOF,
ASOEN-HTTF. The ASEAN Secretariat, which has two specialized units for environmental
cooperation, should also be supported.
2-2 The WG affirms the necessity of forging common principles of environmental protectionin the region in order to facilitate collective action and to develop specific projects forcooperation. These common principles should include, for instance, the prioritization ofregional cooperation to address trans-boundary issues; ASEAN as hub of regional
cooperation; and the assumption by the APT countries of collective responsibility forenvironmental protection.
2-3 The WG acknowledges that environmental issues are diverse and that the concerns ofeach country may differ. Nevertheless, it is necessary to develop a regional program forsharing best practices among APT countries.
2-4 In tackling the problems of deforestation, forest preservation, and illegal logging, efforts
should be made to involve local community people in the cooperation schemes.
2-5 Public awareness and education programs concerning environmental protection should bedeveloped.
2-6 Although global warming is a “global” problem, regional measures must be initiated toaddress this problem. The WG recommends the establishment of an APT Global Warming
Task Force which will develop “Asian Ways” for identifying, monitoring, and securitizing thethreat of global warming in the region.

Architecture to Promote Cooperation against Pandemic Threats
3 The WG discussed the pandemic threat posed by such diseases as SARS, AIDS, and avian
influenza (AI). This session focused mainly on the recent outbreaks of avian influenza, and onways of containing and managing the common regional threat. The following proposals
were made:3

3-1 AI is a trans-boundary threat that requires regional mechanisms for disease surveillanceand control.
3-2 ASEAN has already formulated a Work Plan for the Control and Eradication of HPAI(Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) in order to combat AI. There is no consensus, however,on policy and implementation. The WG stresses the need for enhancing the monitoring
capabilities of APT countries. The WG expects the ASEAN Secretariat to play a leading roleand urges the Plus Three Countries to support the strengthening of the capability of theASEAN Secretariat via the existing channel of APTEIDP (APT Emerging Infectious DiseasePrograms).
3-3 The WG highlights the significance of domestic policy initiatives to be undertaken by theAPT governments. These initiatives include the following:
3-3-1 Establish an AI Information Gathering Center which integrates data from related
agencies both at the national and local levels. The Center will be responsible for designingdomestic surveillance and damage control systems.
3-3-2 Measures to reinforce the border control of infected birds/chickens should be adopted
by each country to prevent smuggling and prohibit trade of infected chickens. This is intended
to improve the transparency of regional anti-AI policies and build mutual trust among APTcountries.
3-3-3 Local communities should be actively involved in the fight against AI. The WG urgesthat a viable compensation program for local farmers whose income bases are threatened by
AI be implemented. Public awareness and education programs should also target local
communities that are likely to be affected by the AI.
3-4 In order to promote APT cooperation, the WG proposes the institutionalization of theAPT Center for Pandemics which includes the AI Task Force. The Task Force—whichconsists of policy-makers, AI experts, civil society/local community organizations—isexpected to monitor and identify problems in the early-detection, surveillance andcrisis-management systems. A regional framework for cooperation is urgently needed tocombat the threat of AI.

Conclusion
The Working Group on Overall Architecture of Community Building in East Asia in 20074

argues that transnational crimes, environmental degradation and pandemics are all
cross-border threats that cannot be countered at the individual state level. It is therefore
imperative that regional counter-measures be adopted and multilateral cooperation
frameworks be established to address these problems. Such cooperation is not only importantin itself, but is also crucial to nurturing trust and promoting community building in East Asia.
The APT governments should move beyond information exchange and dialogue toformulating concrete policies and implementing specific programs of action to address thesecross-border challenges.
Regional cooperation should be undertaken within the framework of ASEAN Plus Threeespecially for the purposes of providing financial support, capacity-building assistance, andsharing of best practices. The WG urges the ASEAN Secretariat to serve as the hub ofregional cooperation and play a leading role in designing and coordinating specific programsof action. APT should provide support for enhancing the capability of ASEAN Secretariat toaddress the regional challenges.

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