In the Philippines: ASEAN – Surprising Outcomes for the United States
The Philippines took center stage this week while hosting ASEAN, ASEAN plus 3 (China, Japan, South Korea) and East Asia Summit (adding India, New Zealand, and Australia). Here in the Philippines press, much of the commentary was along domestic political lines: Did embattled President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo score a triumph (she did); would the new ASEAN Convention on Counter-Terrorism be ratified by the Philippine Senate (probably); would the controversial Ant-Terror bill now be passed into law (who knows?)
The international press, however, focused on the absence of the United States – surmising that it has a weaker role now in East Asia, especially vis-à-vis China. But while China made a big splash within the Philippines, with promises of substantial investments, what was striking was how favorably the United States would view most of the actual outcomes of the summit.
First, there was the signing of the Convention on Counter-Terrorism. Secondly, there was continued pressure on Myanmar over human rights issues. Not only did the ASEAN declaration call for the release of detainees, the Philippines privately pressed Myanmar Prime Minister Soe Win on democracy, and specifically on the issue of Aung San Suu Kyi. Finally, this weekend saw the repeated willingness to back the six-party talks on North Korea’s nuclear program, with the Philippines offering to host the next round.
In short, this round of meetings chaired by the Philippines often did produce results that were in line with policy thrusts of the United States. Such an outcome may help to heal the rift caused several years ago by the Philippines’ abrupt departure from the “coalition of the willing” in Iraq, when Philippine troops were withdrawn after the kidnapping of a Filipino civilian, who was later released.
