ASEAN & the Philippines

The importance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the life of my country, the Philippines, cannot be overemphasized. In my timeline on ASEAN & the Philippines, it shows the history of the Philippines’ relationship with this rising regional bloc. A bloc which is a force to reckon with today since the time it was established in 1967.

The following are some of the important historical events which I believe marks the Philippines’ commitment to pursue ASEAN’s goal of “cooperative peace and shared prosperity”:

• 2003 (Oct 7-8) – 9th ASEAN Summit; The Leaders resolved under the Bali Concord that an ASEAN Community shall be established by 2020.

The need to deepen regional economic integration and to link to world economies through bold and strategic actions started the economic growth of ASEAN. In fact, many economists and other experts say it is a miracle growth.

• 2007 (Jan 9-15) – 12th ASEAN Summit; The Member-States signed the Cebu Declaration on the Acceleration of the Establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015

Hosted by the Philippines, the Member-States decided to hasten the ASEAN Community “to reinforce ASEAN’s centrality and role as the driving force in charting the evolving regional infrastructure”

• 2007 (Nov 20) – 13th ASEAN Summit; The ASEAN Charter adopted; This document became a legally binding agreement among the 10 Member-States. This was the first step towards the aim of a free trade area by 2015. The ASEAN Motto came to be “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”.

• 2012 ( July 9-13) – 45th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting;

For the first time in the 45 years of ASEAN existence, it failed to come up with a Joint Communique. The Philippines deplored the non-issuance which was unprecedented. The Chair opposed any mention of the Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) at all in the Joint Communique and considered the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea (WPS/SCS) involving four ASEAN Members as a bilateral conflict which the Philippines questioned. Since ASEAN’s decisions can only be carried out through consensus, any objection on even one Member will block any action. I find this fact in the ASEAN history so interesting. I realized that this is one of those issues that the region has to face with a united stand but as I learned in International Relations and GeoPolitics (Module 1), it should not be to choose between the United States and China. A middle ground approach is more prudent as of now.

• 2017 (Nov 12-14) – ASEAN @ 50 and PH Chairmanship in 2017

The Philippines played host to the 31st ASEAN Summit where the grand celebration of the ASEAN’s 50th Anniversary was made. The Summit organizers prioritized the drafting of the South China Sea Code of Conduct which would seek to work for a more “people-oriented, people-centered ASEAN”, among other objectives.

I consider the foregoing events also as milestones in the life of ASEAN, not only in terms of its relationship with the Philippines, but in international context as well. To sum it up, indeed, “ASEAN is one of the cornerstones of the Philippines’ foreign and trade policies.” (Shead, Asian Briefing, 2017)