The Philippines’ major shift in foreign policy which is to talk with China bilaterally on the territorial dispute over Scarborough shoal has gotten affirmation from ASEAN with the adoption of the Framework of the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea in last’s weeks ASEAN summit.
The occasion has always been fun especially if one is fond of pantomime like the kabuki drama of Japan or Wayang shadow play of Indonesia. The actors in kabuki wear masks that keep the audience guessing who they are and what their plans are; in Wayang they act behind a transparent curtain as they try to convey their message using only action with gestures.
There was a collective squeal of kilig when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau strode into the cavernous main briefing room of the International Media Center of the 31st Asean Summit and related summits where about a thousand journalists, government officials and events staff gathered for the first press conference of a visiting leader attending the EAS summit.
