PH, ASEAN & China as 3rd decade begins

THERE were tense moments in recent years in the relations between the Philippines and China, putting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in a quandary, but now, at the end of the second decade of the 21st century, a regime of peace and cooperation has developed, ensuring longterm development and progress for the country and the region.

At the start of the decade, it may be recalled, the United States announced an “Asia Pivot,” including moving 60 percent of its military assets to the region. This drew mixed reactions from many countries, with China seeing it as a move to contain its rise as a regional power.

Japan stepped up its claim to the Diaoyu or Senkaku islands, which are also claimed by China. The Philippines also stepped up its claim to many areas in the South China Sea with the filing of a case against China’s nine-dash claim to most of the South China Sea. The Arbitral Court ruled against China’s claim but declined to rule on the other nations’ claims, so that the uncertainty continues today over the clashing claims in the area.

With the rise of the new administration of President Duterte in 2016, the Philippines has followed a more independent foreign policy, with a program of dialogue and cooperation with China and the other nations of the ASEAN, some of which have rival claims to islands in the South China Sea.

The Philippines has benefited from this atmosphere of goodwill and dialogue with China, under President Xi Jinping, receiving aid, loans, and investments in the billions of dollars. There is a joint venture for oil and gas exploration in the Reed Bank, a 60-40 agreement favoring the Philippines.

ASEAN also looks forward to an agreement for a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, part of a China-ASEAN vision for the incoming decade.

A Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) of 15 Asia-Pacific nations with 30 percent of the world’s population and economy could be the greatest achievement of ASEAN. This visionary project may well be the economic engine for global recovery from the current COVID-19 pandemic.

In a few more days, the second decade of the 21st century will pass on and the new decade – 2021-2030 – begins. This has been called the Asian Century and the Philippines is right in the center of development.