Archive - ASEAN at 50

China’s influence on both regional blocs is so huge.

As if nothing happened. No construction, no land reclamation, no more concerns expressed on the South China Sea dispute.

Here’s a timeline of the journey from the ASEAN declaration in 2007 to the consensus in 2017.

It is now “theoretically possible.”

Countries in East Asia strengthened their call to end the use and development of chemical weapons in the region, expressing concern over North Korea’s nuclear program while seeking a resumption of dialogue to de-escalate tensions.

The AMRI is proposing a region-wide media literacy program among different stakeholders, including students, he said, that would tackle the spread of misinformation.

A key feature of the document is to afford mechanisms for ASEAN migrants such as labor contracts and legal representation.

“A piece of paper is not enforceable if parties do not honor their promises” - Lorenzana

Increasing local government engagement is one of the goals of the ASEAN integration, specifically in the BIMP-EAGA. But local governments outside of the key areas are not directly engaged.

As the Philippine government gears up to host the next ASEAN Summit in November, Carmen Verona is also bracing herself, but for something quite different: the possibility of getting evicted from where she sets up her makeshift store.​

DENR is batting for greater protection for whale sharks and four other migratory birds and fishes, through measures seeking to guard them against unsustainable tourism practices, among others.

Engage people more.

“The old solutions are not working anymore.” - Mahathir

“There are now very strong moves for members of ASEAN to get out of so called ASEAN way" - FVR

ASEAN is missing out on achieving real economic integration if it does not recognize and allow more labor mobility ­– including for unskilled ones that make up the most of its migrants.

The Philippines’ chairing of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the regional organization’s 50th anniversary received a rude shock when Malaysia dissociated itself from a statement on the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, issued by Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.

The meeting is a simulation. Yet, it has already taught the participants one important lesson: the idea of consensus, and how difficult it can be to reach, in the trademark decision-making process of ASEAN.

BANGKOK – Laos and Cambodia are often seen as little more than political twins who have chosen to reap economic benefits from China in exchange for their loyalty to the Middle Kingdom – and choosing this alliance over keeping consensus with their ASEAN family.

NINGBO, China - It is disturbingly obvious that the ASEAN states do not – and will not – possess the same enormous politico-economic clout that China has to be able to accommodate the West while at the same time strive to reshape a world order dominated by Western hegemony.

Countries participating in a mammoth Asean-led regional free trade agreement are making a fresh pitch to salvage the deal with new proposals on the level of trade they are willing to liberalize.

Regional trade ministers are finalizing the key elements of a mammoth free trade deal that the Philippines is working to substantially conclude this year.

Within 50 years of existence, ASEAN has made progress on environmental policies – at least on paper.

After reading the Joint Communique of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN, together with other documents and accounts of meetings, three narratives come to mind.

Timeline of key events dating back to 1992, when the goal of having a COC in the South China Sea was first set.