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{{Short description|Founding treaty of Association of Southeast Asian Nations}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2021}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox treaty
| name = ASEAN Declaration
| long_name = 
| image = ST 20170326 STKISHOREBOOKOA4Q 3027316-2-640x480.jpg
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| caption = The signing of the ASEAN Declaration in Bangkok on 8 August 1967 by five foreign ministers, marking the establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
| type = Multilateral treaty
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| date_signed = {{Start date|df=yes|1967|8|8}}
| location_signed = [[Bangkok]], Thailand
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| original_signatories = * {{flag icon|Indonesia}} [[Adam Malik]] 
* {{flag icon|Malaysia}} [[Tun Abdul Razak]] 
* {{flag icon|Singapore}} [[S. Rajaratnam]] 
* {{flag icon|Philippines}} [[Narciso Ramos]] 
* {{flag icon|Thailand}} [[Thanat Khoman]]
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}}

The '''ASEAN Declaration'''<ref>{{cite web|title=The Asean Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) Bangkok, 8 August 1967|url=http://asean.org/the-asean-declaration-bangkok-declaration-bangkok-8-august-1967/|website=ASEAN|access-date=7 May 2017}}</ref> or '''Bangkok Declaration''' is the founding document of the [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations]] (ASEAN). It was signed in [[Bangkok]] on 8 August 1967 by the five [[ASEAN]] founding members, [[Indonesia]], [[Malaysia]], [[Philippines]], [[Singapore]], and [[Thailand]].

It states the basic principles of ASEAN: co-operation, amity, and non-interference.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Asia-Pacific Profile |author1=Bernard Eccleston |author2=Michael Dawson |author3=Deborah J. McNamara |year= 1998|publisher=Routledge (UK)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l07ak-yd6DAC&q=%22Bangkok+Declaration%22+ASEAN&pg=RA1-PA311|isbn=0-415-17279-9}}</ref> The date is now celebrated as ASEAN Day.<ref>{{cite web|title=ASEAN Day|url=http://www.asean.org/asean/about-asean/asean-day|website=ASEAN|access-date=11 February 2015}}</ref>

One theory suggests ASEAN was formed as a display of solidarity against [[Vietnam War|communist expansion in Vietnam]] and [[communist]] [[insurgency]] within their own borders. However, there is nothing written in the ASEAN Declaration that actually says this.

== Signatories ==
ASEAN listed the signatories of the ASEAN Declaration as its founding fathers.<ref>{{cite web |title=The founding of ASEAN |url=https://asean.org/the-founding-of-asean/ |access-date=8 June 2025 |website=ASEAN}}</ref> These individuals are credited with laying the groundwork for ASEAN's principles of regional cooperation, non-interference, and mutual respect, which continue to guide the organization today.<ref name=":12">{{cite web |last=Koga |first=Kei |date=24 February 2012 |title=The Process of ASEAN's Institutional Consolidation in 1968–1976: Theoretical Implications for Changes of Third-World Security-Oriented Institution |url=https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/138882/WP234.pdf |access-date=8 June 2025 |website=RSIS Working Paper Series |publisher=S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies}}</ref> These are:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Picture
!Name
!Country
!Description
|-
|[[File:Adam_Malik_1970.jpg|108x108px]]
|[[Adam Malik]]
|{{flag|Indonesia}}
|As Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Malik was instrumental in reversing Indonesia’s [[Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation|Konfrontasi]] with Malaysia. Malik also contributed significantly to the drafting of the Bangkok Declaration, the tenets of [[Musyawarah|''musyawarah'']] (consultation) and ''mufakat'' (which evolved to the [[ASEAN Way|ASEAN way]]),<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |date=2017-04-01 |title=ASEAN's strategic diplomacy underpins regional stability - East Asia Forum |url=https://eastasiaforum.org/2017/06/18/aseans-strategic-diplomacy-underpins-regional-stability/#:~:text=ASEAN%E2%80%99s%20ability%20to,consultation%20and%20consensus). |journal=East Asia Forum Quarterly: Volume 9, Number 2 2017 |language=en |volume=9 |issue=2 |pages=7–9}}</ref> and the naming of ASEAN.<ref name=":3">{{cite book |last=Krishnamra |first=Nadhavathna |url=https://image.mfa.go.th/mfa/0/4OJCTby7gE/images/Thailand_and_ASEAN_1967-1979.pdf |title=Thailand and ASEAN 1967–1979: A Commitment to Regionalism or Complement to Alignment? |publisher=International Studies Center |year=2024 |access-date=28 March 2025}}</ref>
|-
|[[File:Secretary_Narciso_R._Ramos.jpg|80x80px]]
|[[Narciso Ramos|Narciso R. Ramos]]
|{{flag|Philippines|1981}}
|A journalist and member of the [[Philippine resistance against Japan|Philippine resistance]] during [[World War II]], Ramos was first to speak at ASEAN’s founding to stress the importance of regional cooperation, citing challenges to the countries of Southeast Asia during uncertain and critical times.<ref name=":0">{{cite book |last=Ramos |first=Fidel V. |url=https://www.eria.org/asean50-vol.1-14.fidel-ramos.pdf |title=ASEAN@50 Volume 1: The ASEAN Journey: Reflections of ASEAN Leaders and Officials |date=October 2017 |publisher=Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia |editor1-last=Intal |editor1-first=Ponciano Jr. |pages=13–27 |chapter=From “Sports‑Shirt” Diplomacy to a Model Rules‑Based Organisation |access-date=8 June 2025 |editor2-last=Chongkittavorn |editor2-first=Kavi |editor3-last=Maramis |editor3-first=Larry}}</ref> He embedded the idea that ASEAN should resolve or dampen internal disputes peacefully, a principle later codified in the 1976 [[Treaty of Amity and Cooperation]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web |last=Koga |first=Kei |date=24 February 2012 |title=The Process of ASEAN's Institutional Consolidation in 1968–1976: Theoretical Implications for Changes of Third-World Security-Oriented Institution |url=https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/138882/WP234.pdf |access-date=8 June 2025 |website=RSIS Working Paper Series |publisher=S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies}}</ref>
|-
|[[File:Tun_Abdul_Razak_Universiti_(4to3).jpg|106x106px]]
|[[Abdul Razak Hussein|Tun Abdul Razak]]
|{{flag|Malaysia}}
|Serving concurrently as Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Tun Abdul Razak steered the association toward [[Non-Aligned Movement|non-alignment]], formalised that stance in [[ZOPFAN]],<ref>{{Citation |title=ZOPFAN |date=2011 |work=Southeast Asian Regionalism: New Zealand Perspectives |pages=37–53 |editor-last=Farrelly |editor-first=Nicholas |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/southeast-asian-regionalism/zopfan/DE002E4D4415EEA9B7696FDB813D8CD9 |access-date=2025-06-23 |series=Books and Monographs |publisher=ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute |isbn=978-981-4311-01-4}}</ref> pressed for tighter internal machinery, and reframed ASEAN diplomacy to let Southeast Asians, not external patrons, decide the region’s future.<ref name=":1" />
|-
|[[File:ASEAN's_Big_Five_(S._Rajaratnam).jpg|99x99px]]
|[[S. Rajaratnam]]
|{{flag|Singapore}}
|First foreign minister of Singapore, Rajaratnam argued that [[Regionalism (international relations)|regionalism]] was essential to complement individualistic [[nationalism]]. Rajaratnam warned of the dangers of “[[balkanization]]”, and saw a united Southeast Asia as essential for collective regional resilience.<ref>{{Cite web |title=S'pore's founding father S Rajaratnam helped establish ASEAN 50 years ago, here's what he said in 1967 |url=https://mothership.sg/2017/08/spores-founding-father-s-rajaratnam-helped-establish-asean-50-years-ago-heres-what-he-said-in-1967/ |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=mothership.sg |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[File:Thanat_Khoman_(cropped).jpg|106x106px]]
|[[Thanat Khoman]]
|{{flag|Thailand}}
|Thailand’s foreign minister, Khoman initiated the dialogue that led to ASEAN, first at a banquet that eased regional tensions. He drafted the [[ASEAN Charter|charter]] and hosted “sports-shirt diplomacy” talks at [[Bang Saen Beach|Bang Saen]], laying the groundwork for the Bangkok Declaration.<ref name=":0" />
|}

==Surrounding issues==

===Communism===
Prior to the declaration, the five [[Southeast Asian]] states struggled to contain [[communist]] influence.

At the time, the [[Philippines|Filipino]] government struggled to give [[amnesty]] to former [[Hukbalahap]] militants, who staged an armed conflict in [[Luzon]] during the 1950s that almost led to the collapse of the central government.

Conflict between the Indonesian military and the increasing [[Indonesian Communist Party]] apparently come to an end in late 1965 with the transition to the dictatorship of [[Suharto]]'s [[Orde Baru|"New Order"]] after the horror of [[Indonesian mass killings of 1965–66]] being implemented.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/10/the-indonesia-documents-and-the-us-agenda/543534/|title=What the United States Did in Indonesia |last=Bevins |first=Vincent |date= 20 October 2017 |website= TheAtlantic.com |publisher= The Atlantic Monthly Group|access-date= 30 December 2020 }}</ref>

[[Communism]] also led to the idea of merging the Federation of Malaya, [[Crown Colony of Sarawak|Sarawak]], [[Singapore]], and [[Crown Colony of North Borneo|North Borneo]] into one entity, which had the intention of eliminating the possibility of Singapore falling into communism. [[Singapore in Malaysia|Singapore was expelled from the Federation in 1965]] over racial tensions and how the federation should be governed, but remained a capitalist democratic society with close ties with its new neighbors.

===Tensions between neighbours===
A related matter was the formation of Malaysia. In 1961, [[Federation of Malaya|Malayan]] Prime Minister [[Tunku Abdul Rahman]] announced a proposal to create a new federation called Malaysia. This was opposed by Indonesia and the Philippines because Indonesia believed the new formation was a form of [[neo-colonialism]] while the Philippines [[North Borneo dispute|claimed eastern North Borneo]] (Sabah) as part of its territory.

To defuse tension, a non-political confederation called [[Maphilindo]] was formed. This, however, was not successful due to the perception that Maphilindo was formed to delay or prevent the formation of Malaysia.

Despite opposition, Malaysia was formed in 1963. This led to the [[Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation]]. The Philippines withdrew diplomatic ties, causing relations to remain sour until the formation of ASEAN.

It is believed by scholars that the formation of ASEAN has prevented hostilities between [[Southeast Asia]]n states.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=dfGR1iPfxTwC&dq=konfrontasi+manila&pg=PA467 Globalisation: encyclopaedia of trade, labour, and politics by Ashish K. Vaidya]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=S3eCr4q02RcC&dq=konfrontasi+philippines&pg=PA231 The Genesis of Konfrontasi: Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia 1945-1965, Greg Poulgrain]</ref>

== See also ==
* [[History of ASEAN]]
* [[ASEAN Charter]]
* [[Domino Theory]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{wikisource|Bangkok Declaration}}
{{Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)}}
{{Cold War}}

[[Category:ASEAN laws]]
[[Category:Political charters]]
[[Category:Treaties concluded in 1967]]
[[Category:Treaties of Indonesia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Singapore]]
[[Category:Treaties of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Treaties of Thailand]]
[[Category:1967 documents]]
[[Category:August 1967 in Asia]]