Tag: Asean

ASEAN unlikely to conclude ‘meaningful’ COC in South China Sea – Vietnamese academic

Published by Ellen on January 11, 2020

A slide from the presentation by Dr. Vo Xuan Vinh in a New Delhi conference on South China Sea.

A Vietnamese academic pierced whatever illusion about the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea being worked out between ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and China and being coordinated by the Philippines.

Speaking in aconference on South China Sea in New Delhi, India November 29, 2019, Dr. Vo Xuan Vinh of the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies at the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences said, “It is unlikely that ASEAN and China could conclude a COC as scheduled (2021).”

“If they do, “ Vo said, “the COC is not meaningful.”

Veteran diplomat tells Duterte to stop joke about Mongolia and Turkey joining Asean

Published by Ellen on May 19, 2017

This story first came out in VERA Files.

Pres. Duterte and Mongolian Prime Minister Jargaltulgyn Erdenebat held bilateral talks in Beijing. Malacañang photo.

On the sidelines of the first One Belt, One Road summit in Beijing last week, President Duterte met with Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Jargaltulgyn Erdenebat, prime minister of Mongolia.

In his press conference upon arrival in Davao City May 16, Duterte said h is sponsoring the application for membership of Turkey and Mongolia into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The Philippines is this year’s chair of the meetings of Asean, which coincides with the golden anniversary of the regional organization.

“Ay oo, kasi nandiyan ka sa ano…By the way, I had a talk with the President Erdoğan and the Prime Minister of—si Erdenebat sa Mongolia. They also want to… Gusto nila na magsali sa ASEAN. And since I was—I am the chair, ang Pilipinas ngayon, they wanted me to sponsor their entry and I said, “Yes, why not?,” he said.

Diokno: Ignore alleged irregularity in 2017 ASEAN hosting bidding

Published by Ellen on January 4, 2017

Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said he ordered his office to award the P2.8 billion contract for the 2017 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) conferences in the Philippines to the lone bidder, despite complaints about alleged irregularities in the bidding.

In a press briefing in Malacanang Tuesday, Diokno insisted that the government complied with the bidding process and said he agreed with Director General Marciano Paynor, Jr. of the ASEAN National Organizing Committee (NOC) that government should talk to just one bidder in the biggest contract in the history of events management in the Philippines.

“(Paynor said) we should just have one bidder, I want to talk to one person. So that’s what happened there,” Diokno said.

He added, “EON is just a small company…. Ignore that EON complaint.”

ASEAN and Suu Kyi’s deafening silence on Rohingya plight

Published by Ellen on May 17, 2015

NY Times:Rohingya migrants swam to collect food supplies dropped by a Thai Army helicopter in the Andaman Sea. Credit Christophe Archambault/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Adrift in the Andaman Sea are hundreds of thousands of people in the verge of death due to hunger, thirst and victims of human cruelty.

They are the Rohingyas, a Muslim ethnic group mainly living in Myanmar. It is estimated that they number some 800,000 and comprise 80 to 90 percent of the state of Rakhine.

Boatloads of them have fled Myanmar where they are being persecuted. Myanmar does not consider them its citizens. History accounts say they migrated from Bengal during the 1700s during the British rule. Although some scholars say they are indigenous to the state of Rakhine.

‘Stupid proposal, stupid reply’

Published by Ellen on July 4, 2013

US Secretary of State Joh Kerry shook hands with his counterparts at this weeks's ARF in Brunei except Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, whom he embraced. — US Secretary of State Joh Kerry shook hands with his counterparts at this weeks’s ARF in Brunei except Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, whom he embraced.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario is known not to mince words when it comes to China and its behavior in the disputed areas in the West Philippines Sea.

He accused China of “duplicity” and “intimidation” at the 2012 Asean Ministerial Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This week, at the 2013 Asean Ministerial Meeting in Brunei, he blasted the neighboring behemoth again saying the “massive presence of Chinese military and paramilitary ships” is destabilizing the region.

Philippine diplomats accompanying him related proudly to reporters how the foreign secretary refuted the accusations of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that the Philippines is stirring tension in the South China Sea during last Sunday’s Asean plus three (China, Japan, South Korea) meeting.

Philippines alone in ASEAN vs China

Published by Ellen on July 10, 2012

DFA explains why there was no ASEAN communique: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/44771/why-there%E2%80%99s-no-asean-joint-communique

Update:Southeast Asian summit breaks up in acrimony
Agence France-Presse
Posted at 07/13/2012 2:52 PM | Updated as of 07/13/2012 3:02 PM

PHNOM PENH – Days of heated diplomacy ended in failure Friday as splits over territorial disputes with China prevented Southeast Asian nations from issuing their customary joint statement at a summit Friday.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/world/07/13/12/southeast-asian-summit-breaks-acrimony

As of late afternoon Tuesday, the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, who were meeting in Pnom Penh, Cambodia, had not released the joint communiqué which usually concludes the meeting.

Reporters covering the 45th ASEAN FMM said the discussion Monday was contentious between the Philippines and the chair, Cambodia over the subject of Scarborough Shoal.

The Philippines, represented by Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, introduced the following paragraph in the draft communiqué. The capitalized phrases were taken out by Cambodia, apparently in consideration of China, but the Philippines insisted on its restoration: “ In this context,we discussed in depth the recent developments in the South China Sea INCLUDING THE SITUATION IN THE SCARBOROUGH SHOAL, and expressed serious concern over such development in the area PARTICULARLY THOSE CONTRARY TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE 1982 UNCLOS RELATED TO THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE AND CONTINENTAL SHELVES OF COASTAL STATES. In this connection we called on all parties to respect THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE AND CONTINENTAL SHELVES OF COASTAL STATES as well as the freedom of navigation in and overflight over the South China Sea as provided for by the universally recognized principles of international law,inclusing the 1982 UNCLOS. “

Will Spratlys tension pave the way for US troops in PH?

Published by Ellen on June 30, 2011

Anti-submarine helicopterB — An anti-submarine helicopter on the flight deck of USS Howard, a missile-guided destroyer that participated in the PH-US military exercise

To those who got excited with the statement of United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Ambassador Harry Thomas about supporting the Philippines in the Spratlys issue, read carefully what they said.

Thomas said: “We are allies. We will continue to work with each other in all issues including the South China Sea and Spratlys.” This was at the time when the Philippines was protesting the intrusions of Chinese armed vessels in West Philippine Sea.

Thomas got hearty applause when he repeated that assurance during the launching of the National Renewable Energy Program at the Department of Energy in the presence of President Aquino.

Thomas also said that the US stands “by our commitment under Mutual Defense Treaty.”

PH military eyes SEATO-like deal to lease patrol boats from US

Published by Ellen on June 30, 2011

This story is also posted in www.verafiles.org

USS Chung HoonB — USS Chung Hoon approaching Puerto Princesa Bay to participate in PH-US military exercises

By Tessa Jamandre
VERA Files

Amid renewed tensions in the disputed South China Sea, the Philippine military is batting to revive the concept of an anti-communist collective defense of Southeast Asia to enable the country to enter into a leasing arrangement of patrol boats with the United States.

An operational lease would allow the Philippine Navy to use newer U.S. ships, Navy Vice Commander Rear Admiral Orwen Cortez told a press conference following the opening ceremony of the PH-US Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) in Puerto Princesa on Tuesday.

“We have experience with this during the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) way back in the ‘50s when U.S. ships came to the Philippines, so that was the background and we’re trying to revive that concept,” he said.

ASEAN summit aborted

Published by Ellen on April 12, 2009

Protesters storm Thai hotel; Arroyo, leaders flee
Philippine Daily Inquirer

PATTAYA, THAILAND – Helicopters evacuated foreign leaders out of this beach resort city after anti-government protests forced the Thai government to postpone the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders Summit.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo boarded a civilian helicopter which landed on the roof of the luxury Royal Cliff Grand Hotel, where the meeting was being held, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said by telephone from Pattaya.

“She’s very safe, and very OK,” said Remonde, adding that Ms Arroyo and the other leaders were never in any danger. “The protesters were not rowdy,” he said.

Nasilaw ang Ombudsman sa Cebu lamppost

Published by Ellen on October 20, 2008

Nagpapatawa itong Ombudsman.

Imbestigahan daw nila itong mga Euro generals lalo pa si Gen. Eliseo de la Paz na nahulihan sa Moscow na may dalang 105,000 euros (P6.9 million), lampas sa limit na pwedeng dalhin (mga 7,300 euros o $10,000) palabas ng bawat taong umaalis papuntang ibang bayan.

Sabi ni Assistant Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni, aalamin daw nila kung pera ng gobyerno o sariling pera ni De la Paz. Kung sarili raw pera ni De la Paz, imbestigahan raw kung saan galing ang ganyang napakalaking pera.