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'ASEAN, China now equals in US' eyes'

RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- The forthcoming US-ASEAN Summit in California sends a message that in the eyes of the United States, China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are equals.This is according to Ambassador Elizabeth Buensuceso, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the ASEAN, who noted that the two-day summit meeting will happen at the same historical venue where US President Barack Obama once hosted China President Xi Jinping in 2013.&quot;Napaka-symbolic &#x27;nung piniling lugar ni President Barack Obama to welcome the leaders of ASEAN. Sunnylands is the venue of the summit between President Obama and President Xi Jinping of China. Inihuhudyat nito na halos pareho ang pagtingin ng Amerika sa ASEAN. Ito lang &#x27;yung unang pagkakataon na may isang presidente ng Amerika na nag-imbita sa mga leaders ng ASEAN. So on our part, it’s an honor because finally the world has come to realize that ASEAN really matters. It has acquired an important role in international relations,&quot; Buensuceso said.For De La Salle University political science professor Richard Heydarian, hosting the ASEAN leaders in &quot;the same place and with same intimacy he hosted Xi three years ago, Obama is communicating that his pivot to Asia policy is a comprehensive engagement with East Asia, not only China.&quot;President Benigno Aquino III left for the United States Sunday to meet with Obama and other leaders of the ASEAN to discuss regional maritime disputes, transnational challenges, terrorism and the ASEAN economic integration.The meeting comes amid simmering tensions in the region as China continues to maintain structures in parts of the sea claimed by the Philippines. The Philippines has filed an arbitration case against China.Heydarian said Obama is expected &quot;to push ASEAN leaders, including traditional Chinese ally and current ASEAN chair Laos, to declare, perhaps in a formal statement, their commitment to preventing threats (ostensibly from China) to freedom of navigation and maritime security in South China Sea.&quot;He added that Obama is also expected to consult the ASEAN on the Trans-Pacific Partnership issue, which Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei have already signed.&quot;Obama will consult with Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand on how they could join the next round of TPP negotiations, what will be the benefits, and why this is the best way forward for the region. Philippines and Indonesia have shown interest, but Thailand&#x27;s pro-China junta is wavering,&quot; Heydarian said.<div>Free-wheeling discussion</div>According to Buensuceso, Obama wants a free-wheeling discussion where any party can raise a topic that matters to them.&quot;President Obama is encouraging a free-flow of discussion. Gusto niya interactive. So anybody can just raise any topic that he wants or she wants. However, there are indicative topics na siguro mangingibabaw sa summit na ito. Kasama na riyan ‘yung ating peace and stability in the region, including in the South China Sea,&quot; she said.&quot;Isa pang napakaimportanteng topic na pag-uusapan ay ‘yung countering violent extremism. Puwede ring mapag-usapan ang kalakalan because ASEAN is already an economic community. Pag-uusapan din siyempre ‘yung climate change, cyberterrorism and trafficking—‘yung mga transnational crimes, trafficking in persons and in drugs. So ito ‘yung mga posibleng pag-uusapan pero, siyempre, as I said earlier, kung mayroong topic na gustong ilabas ang bawat leader ng ASEAN ay ilalabas, puwede.&quot;In a radio interview in Manila, Communication Secretary Sonny Coloma said that according to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the main objective of the summit is to strengthen the cooperation between the US and ASEAN members.This also marks the first meeting between the US and the ASEAN after both sides elevated their relations to a strategic partnership in the last ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in November.&quot;Inaasahang magiging mahalagang bahagi ng talakayan ang usaping pang-ekonomiya, tulad ng maaaring maging tulong ng Estados Unidos sa pagpapatatag ng ASEAN economic integration. Maaari ding talakayin ang mga usaping pang-politikal at pang-seguridad, tulad ng maritime security, transnational challenges at ang epektibong pagharap sa banta ng violent extremism. Ang dalawang araw na summit ay magiging impormal kaya’t malayang makapagpapahayag ng saloobin ang mga pinuno ng ASEAN member states sa ano mang isyu o usapin na mahalaga sa kanilang pananaw,&quot; Coloma said.&quot;Batay sa naging talakayan noong nakaraang ASEAN Summit sa Kuala Lumpur noong Nobyembre, malamang na makipagdiyalogo si Pangulong Obama sa mga pinuno ng ASEAN member states hinggil sa mga usapin patungkol sa maritime security,&quot; he added. &quot;Maritime security has emerged as a vital concern to ASEAN. The goal of achieving ASEAN economic integration through the ASEAN economic community, as well as the US initiative on establishing a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) to promote free trade in the Asia Pacific region may be enhanced through more vigorous trades that, in turn, must be assured by freedom of navigation in the main navigational routes of global trade and commerce including the South China Sea,&quot; he continued. &quot;President Aquino has always represented the Philippines’ position on the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as adherence to UNCLOS and international law. The President has also been a leading advocate for a legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, as well as on the importance of seeking peaceful avenues for dispute resolution that underpins the Philippines’ petition before the UN Arbitral Tribunal at The Hague, a move that is being followed closely by other states with maritime entitlement claims,&quot; Coloma also said.<div>Declaration of principles</div>According to Buensuceso, the summit will yield a document that hopefully upholds the rule of law.&quot;We are currently working on a document. What it will be called is still being negotiated. But whatever it is, it will be a declaration of the principles that will govern ASEAN-US relations. At siyempre, sinabi ko na kanina, dapat &#x27;yung tema nung dokumento na &#x27;yon ay icha-champion niya ang rule of law. And of course, it will define ASEAN-US relations in the future as well,&quot; she said.Buensuceso also explained that the Philippines will be pushing its usual agenda during the summit. The Philippines has been pursuing the rule of law in the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea amid an arbitration case before the international tribunal on the law of the sea that stems from a maritime dispute with China and other regional players. The Philippine Supreme Court recently upheld a Philippine-US enhanced defense cooperation agreement (EDCA) that will give the US military full access to Philippine bases.&quot;Gusto nating makuha ang commitment ng Amerika na tutulungan niya tayong panatilihing tahimik at may stability and security sa lugar na ito. Favorite topic din natin siyempre ang pakikipagtulungan sa countering violent extremism. Good governance is also one of our advocacies. Protection of women and children and other vulnerable groups, ito ang ating ano—peace and reconcilation. Ito ‘yung mga adbokasiya ng Pilipinas sa ASEAN na gusto nating pag-usapan sa summit na ito,&quot; she said.<div>ISIS and terrorism</div>While both Obama and Aquino will be leaving office soon, this doesn’t make their presence irrelevant.&quot;There will also be discussion on the threat of ISIS and religious fundamentalism, especially in light of the ISIS-inspired attacks in Jakarta and movements across Southeast Asia, including Mindanao which is now precariously coping with the BBL ((Bangsamoro Basic Law) deadlock,&quot; Heydarian said.&quot;Both Aquino and Obama are expected to present the summit as their possibly last major diplomatic engagement, though Obama has almost a year into office and may still have to grapple with many major challenges. But Obama is certainly pleased by EDCA passage and will consult on how to ensure the post-BBL breakdown fallout will be managed from a counter-terror point of view and how relations could move forward after Aquino.&quot;While the next president of the Philippines can always alter foreign policy, Heydarian said he doubts he or she &quot;can significantly alter bilateral relations with Beijing.&quot;&quot;Personally, I doubt -- unless China makes a huge concession in its territorial claims, which is unlikely -- the next Philippine president can significantly alter bilateral relations with Beijing, considering the high public awareness on the West Philippine Sea disputes and the unprecedented rise in anti-China sentiment, which has coincided with a spike in American and Japanese favorability ratings among Pinoys,&quot; he said.<div>ASEAN 50</div>Meanwhile, Buensuceso also pointed out that the Philippines is set to chair the ASEAN next year, which marks the 50th anniversary of the regional grouping, along with other milestones.&quot;Napakaimportanteng chairmanship po next year Pilipinas ang presidente o chair ng ASEAN, 50th or golden anniversary ng ASEAN and it’s very exciting. Right now, or even as early as last year, we have been preparing for the chairmanship,&quot; she said.&quot;Right now we have a set of several proposals on how we can celebrate the golden anniversary of ASEAN.&quot;The preparations for the ASEAN Summit next year have been ongoing even as there is a transition in the country’s leadership.&quot;Medyo alanganin ‘yung kalagayan namin kasi we’re going to have a new president by July but I think that whoever becomes the new president will appreciate the fact that we have been spending a lot of time preparing. We cannot finalize the themes yet, we cannot finalize the programs yet, but I think the new administration will appreciate the fact that we are going to present to them well-studied, well-prepared proposals. So ilalatag natin, mamimili sila kung ano ‘yung gusto nilang isulong. Pero gayunpaman, ang Pilipinas naman nga ay meron na siyang set of advocacies and priorities na puwedeng kahit sino ang maging presidente ay palagay ko ay magugustuhan nila ‘yung napili nating mga proposals sa kanila dahil ang mga proposals nga na ito ay upang ilapit ang ASEAN sa mga tao,&quot; Buensuceso said.She said the country&#x27;s hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders&#x27; Meeting last November -- a much bigger event -- also helped them with their planning for the ASEAN event.&quot;I think that we will be guided by the advice of Ambassador (Marciano) Paynor, who led the (APEC) organizing committee. Nag-issue na ang Presidente ng National Organizing Committee last week I think, and right now we’re awaiting the name of the chairperson of this organizing committee. May separate na administrative ‘yung in charge diyan sa logistical and then, of course, the DFA will chair the substantive. Iyon nga ‘yung mamimili ng mga themes, thematic priorities, and what kind of outcome documents will be coming from the different meetings. Iyong last na bilang ko parang 90-plus ang mga outcome documents na &#x27;yan. So pinagpi-prepare na natin ‘yan ngayon pa lang,&quot; she added.Buensuceso also stressed the importance of 2017, which also marks the 40th anniversary of ASEAN-US Relations, the 40th anniversary of ASEAN-Canada Relations, and ASEAN-EU Relations.&quot;It will also be the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India Relations, and we will also proclaim that year, ASEAN-Korea Cultural Year, and of course, 10th anniversary din ‘nung ASEAN Charter,&quot; she enumerated.&quot;Napakaraming dapat ipagdiwang pero napakarami din pong pressure. Pero kung sama-sama tayong magpe-prepare at magsisikap na gawing napakamakabuluhan ito at maganda ay lalo pa pong tataas ang level ng pagtingin ng mga tao sa Pilipinas bilang presidente ng ASEAN at sa ASEAN bilang isang important player in international relations,&quot; Buensuceso said.

The forthcoming US-ASEAN Summit in California sends a message that in the eyes of the United States, China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are equals.

'ASEAN, China now equals in US' eyes'

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'ASEAN, China now equals in US' eyes'

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 15, 2016 12:55 AM PHT

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ASEAN

US

China

Elizabeth Buensuceso

Benigno Aquino III

foreign relations

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