ASEAN Perspectives

Divided ASEAN condemns Myanmar violence again, supports five-point plan

By Agnes ANYA Agence France-Presse JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — ASEAN foreign ministers on Thursday condemned violence in Myanmar again and repeated support for a peace plan ignored by its junta rulers, as the divided bloc struggled to find unity over the protracted crisis. Myanmar has been ravaged by deadly violence since a military coup ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s government in February 2021, unleashing a bloody crackdown on dissent. A joint communique finally arrived late […]

ASEAN moves joint drills from disputed South China Sea area

JAKARTA, June 20, 2023 (AFP) – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has moved its first-ever joint drills, Indonesia’s military said Tuesday, edging them away from waters disputed by China. The bloc’s joint exercises were initially slated for the North Natuna Sea, which Indonesia claims as its exclusive economic zone but where Beijing’s ships occasionally patrol. When confronted by Jakarta, China has invoked the so-called nine-dash line, which demarcates an area it claims to have […]

Thousands flee as Cyclone Mocha approaches Myanmar, Bangladesh

SITTWE, Myanmar, May 13, 2023 (AFP) – Thousands fled Myanmar’s west coast and officials in neighbouring Bangladesh raced to evacuate Rohingya refugees on Saturday as the most powerful cyclone in the region for over a decade churned across the Bay of Bengal. Cyclone Mocha was packing winds of up to 220 kilometres per hour (136 miles per hour), according to India’s meteorological office, equivalent to a category four hurricane. It is expected to weaken before […]

‘Floating toilets’ help Cambodia’s lake-dwelling poor

by Suy SE Agence France-Presse SIEM REAP, Cambodia (AFP) — Pointing to the murky waters of the Tonle Sap, Si Vorn fights back tears as she recalls her four-year-old daughter dying from diarrhea after playing in the polluted lake. Her family of 12 is among 100,000 people living in floating houses on Cambodia’s vast inland waterway, and while their village has 70 houses and a primary school, it has no sanitation system. Now a local […]

China insists Covid data ‘transparent’ after WHO criticism

  Beijing, China (AFP) by Jing Xuan TENG China on Thursday insisted it had been transparent with the international community about its Covid data, as it hit back against World Health Organization criticism that its tally of virus deaths was understating the true scale of its outbreak. There is mounting international concern over China’s steep rise in Covid infections since Beijing abruptly lifted years of hardline restrictions last month, with hospitals and crematoriums quickly overwhelmed. […]

Shallow quake kills 162, injures hundreds on Indonesia’s Java island

Cianjur, Indonesia | AFP | by Dessy Sagita with Jack Moore in Jakarta A shallow 5.6-magnitude earthquake killed at least 162 people, with hundreds injured and others missing, when it toppled buildings and triggered landslides on Indonesia’s main island of Java on Monday, officials said. Doctors treated patients outdoors after the quake, which was felt as far away as the capital Jakarta, left hospitals in the West Java town of Cianjur without power for several […]

Fear, defiance as fighting rages in Myanmar’s north

SAGAING, Myanmar (AFP) — Anti-coup fighters in Myanmar patrol the smoldering ruins of a burned village after what they say was a reprisal attack by junta troops struggling to crush resistance to last year’s military coup. Corrugated roofs, support beams and cooking utensils are all that remain amid the ash in the village in northwestern Sagaing — an area which has seen some of the fiercest fighting against the military’s power grab. Rare footage obtained […]

Analyst weighs in on Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan and its impact on ASEAN

Foreign policy & security analyst Lucio Blanco Pitlo weighs in on the recent visit of US Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan and its impact on ASEAN, specifically the Philippines.   Factors like the Philippines’ proximity to Taiwan, our large OFW population, our trade & investment relations with China, our mutual defense agreements with the US entangle us in this potential diplomatic & geopolitical powderkeg.

Pres. Duterte condemns China’s action of blocking PHL supply boats in Ayungin shoal

Cites UNCLOS, 2016 PHL Arbitral Award to guide ASEAN, China in ensuring peace in South China Sea during ASEAN-China Special Summit   (Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte condemned the latest action of China where its coast guard vessels blocked and attacked with water cannons two Philippine boats sending supplies and food to soldiers stationed in Ayungin Shoal. “We abhor the recent event in the Ayungin Shoal and view with grave concern other similar developments,” […]

PHL economic managers’ full statement on strong 3rd quarter performance of PHL economy this 2021

(Eagle News) — Below is the full joint statement of the economic managers of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte on the Philippine Economic Performance of the Third Quarter of 2021 issued on Nov. 9, 2021 President Duterte’s economic managers include Socio-Economic Planning and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief Karl Kendrick T. Chua, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez, and Budget And Management Officer-In-Charge Tina Rose Marie L. Canda ===================================================== Colleagues in government, friends […]

Pres. Duterte calls on ASEAN to help Myanmar attain peace; says PHL ready to accept Myanmar refugees

  (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte urged member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to help Myanmar in resolving its domestic issues, and expressed the country’s commitment to accept refugees from Myanmar. The 76-year old Philippine leader, participated in his last ASEAN Summit, and said that the ASEAN should collectively address the Myanmar issue “as a responsible community”. “The lack of progress in Myanmar has put ASEAN’s credibility into question. How […]

WATCH: Interview with political analyst Prof. Ybiernas on PHL political candidates for 2022

  (Eagle News) — From the “surprise” candidacy of senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to the possible repercussions of Vice-President Leni Robredo’s decision to change her campaign color from “yellow” to pink and to run as an independent bet while being the Liberal party chairman, political analyst Prof. Van Ybiernas gives his views in this interview of “Balitalakayan.” “Balitalakayan” is a NET25-Radyo Agila program of Eagle Broadcasting Corporation anchored by veteran broadcast journalist Rowena dela […]