Concluded study groups
At the first official meeting of the Steering Committee in Kuala Lumpur in June 1994, four Working Groups were established to examine, Confidence and Security Building Measures (CSBMs); Concepts of Cooperative and Comprehensive Security; Maritime Cooperation; and the North Pacific. A fifth on Transnational Crime was set up in December 1996 (initially as a Study Group, until its viability was accepted by the Steering Group in December 1997).
These Working Groups had done substantial work in their respective areas of study, and issued no less than eight Memorandums for the consideration of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and regional governments. Some of their work, such as in the formulation of principles of preventive diplomacy, has been much appreciated by the ARF. Ppers presented at Working Group meetings have also been published in the form of books to add to the general reservoir of knowledge on the relevant security matters.
In December 2004, a restructure of the Working Groups was undertaken to better reflect the changes taking place in the strategic environment and subsequently the following Study Groups were established:
The tenure of each of the study groups is for a period of two years. The above study groups have automatically dissolved upon completion of work or at the end of their tenure and therefore current and newer study groups have been formed with approval from the Steering Committee.
--Export controls experts group (XCXG)
--Biosecurity expers group (BIOXG)