PJC H2 History Prelim P2 2012

1 Candidate’s Name : __________________________ CT Group : ________ Index no : ________ PIONEER JUNIOR COLLEGE H2 HISTORY JC 2 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2012 H2 9731/2 History of Southeast Asia, c. 1900-1997 DATE: 17/09/2012 (MON) TIME: 0800 – 1100 Hrs INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES: Candidates will answer four questions. Answer question 1 in Section A and answer any three questions in Section B. Write your answers on the separate answer paper provided. If you use more than one sheet of paper, fasten the sheets together. Attach the cover page of the paper on top of your answer scripts. Information to candidates: All questions in this paper carry equal marks. You are reminded of the need for grammatically correct English and clear presentation in your answers. For official use Question No. Full Marks Marks Obtained ( 1 ) /25 ( ) /25 ( ) /25 ( ) /25 Total: /100

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3 SECTION A You must answer question 1. ASEAN & REGIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS 1. Read the sources and then answer the question. Source A During the last five years, the ASEAN countries have succeeded in mobilizing world public opinion, including the overwhelming majority of the non-aligned countries, against Vietnam. In 1982 and 1983, 105 countries voted for the ASEAN resolution at the UN which, inter alia, called upon Vietnam to approach the negotiating table, and urged a political solution which would include the total withdrawal of Vietnamese forces from Cambodia and the holding of free elections under international supervision. A Singaporean diplomat’s speech delivered to a conference on the Cambodian crisis, organised by Save Cambodia Inc. in Washington DC, September 1984. Source B The concept of neutralization advanced by Malaysia is aimed at safeguarding the same fundamental attributes of countries in this area and is, therefore, to be welcomed. But if its prerequisite is the willingness of other nations, especially the big powers, to observe and respect such attributes and renounce all acts of illegal interference and intervention into the internal affairs of Southeast Asian nations, and refrain from using military, political or economic pressure against them, then it would depend on the other nations to make it work. Perhaps, as has been wisely suggested, some form of regional approach might be feasible and effective to obtain a big-power guarantee. Such an attempt has been tried so far with little results. Thai Foreign Minister Thanat Khoman addressing the National Press Club on 15 June 1971. Source C [Despite] an atmosphere of optimism and confidence permeating this week’s first ASEAN Regional Forum in Bangkok, the rhetoric [dwelling] on the vision of pan-Pacific harmony and an end to crude balances of power that passed for security, was entirely misleading. In reality, the undercurrents of Asia’s ancient enmities and suspicions are now resurfacing in the absence of superpower standoff. The conduct of the Bangkok forum was a clear demonstration that Beijing is expanding its influence to dominate East and Southeast Asia. The forum could have been a groundbreaking regional conference security but the ASEAN states were almost an irrelevancy. China had taken control of the agenda and the other delegates were forced to go along with Beijing.

4 No. There would be no multilateral talks on the Spratly Islands. No. Taiwan could not take part in any regional security arrangements. No. The first ASEAN regional forum would n o t m o v e q u i c k l y t o e s t a b l i s h a n y f o r m a l s e c u r i t y n e t w o r k t o a v o i d p o t e n t i a l clashes. Well before the conference, Chinese diplomats in Southeast Asian capitals had called on the foreign ministries in their host countries to pass on Beijing’s desire for the forum to reject any ambitious security agenda. This instruction was observed. From the Sydney Morning Herald on 28 July 1994. Source D ASEAN has contributed much more to conflict avoidance among member s t han t o conflict resolution. Indeed, many of the conflicts between ASEAN members that originally threatened its survival remained unresolved. The Philippines continues to dispute Malaysia’s sovereignty over Sabah; the Thai-Malaysian border remains a troubled one whether the immediate focus is on insurgency, smuggling, drug dealing or Thai Muslim disaffection. Especially in recent years, the aggressive pursuit of dwindling fish stocks and the declaration of Exclusive Economic Zones have added to the number and intensity of disputes over maritime sovereignty and borders. Significantly, however the dispute provisions in the 1976 Bali Treaty of Amity and Cooperation—ASEAN’s touchstone—has never been invoked. Instead bilateral disputes have been dealt with through bilateral negotiations and joint commissions. ASEAN thus escapes responsibility for the delays and failures of the bilateral process. From an article by an American Political Science Professor, published in 1998. Source E Mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum and this post-ministerial conference complement our bilateral efforts to promote stability and prosperity. The ARF is already encouraging meaningful discussion of security issues, confidence-building measures, and other forms of cooperation. It is [important] in defusing tensions surrounding territorial claims in the South China Sea and the Spratly Islands. It can be particularly useful in supporting non-proliferation and the transparency of conventional arms transfers. US engagement in the ARF will deepen as we make further concrete progress on our work program – and on moving from confidence-building to preventive diplomacy. We will seek to ensure the ARF’s ability to discuss important regional security issues in a meaningful way. Speech by US Secretary of State Warren Christopher, during the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference in Jakarta, 1994. Now answer the following question. “ASEAN plays a valuable role in regional security affairs.” To what extent does the evidence in Sources A - E support this view of ASEAN from 1967 - 1997?

5 SECTION B Answer any three questions. 2. How far do you agree that revolutionary movements in Southeast Asia did not experience success in the period up till 1945? 3. “Western colonial powers set the tone in the decolonisation process of Southeast Asia.” To what extent is this true of the period 1945 – 1975? 4. Assess the importance of the communist challenge in contributing to the rise of maximum governance in independent Southeast Asia. 5. ‘Inherent weaknesses of independent Southeast Asian economies brought about the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997.’ Discuss. 6. To what extent were inter-state disputes in post-colonial Southeast Asia primarily influenced by the past? END OF PAPER