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“The Jakarta Post”, the leading English-language and Award-winning Daily Newspaper in Indonesia recently released an Editorial Article which criticized the move of the Administration of President Bong Bong Marcos (PBBM) of doing Defense Deals with Japan and the United States (US) without consulting the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
They also said that such moves could result in a Conflict which will affect not just the Philippines, but the entire South East Asian (SEA) Region as well. Here are some selected Excerpts from that said Article:
“Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro inked the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) in Manila. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. witnessed the signing without the attendance of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
The Marcos Government apparently did not inform or consult Fellow ASEAN Members about the Defense Treaty beforehand, which it was supposed to do given the Impact of the Agreement on the Region. The Signing had been well anticipated, however, as President Marcos and PM Kishida had announced the plan in November.
Neither has there been any Initiative from Manila to send a Special Envoy to brief other ASEAN Leaders about the new Alliance, at least as a matter of Diplomatic Courtesy.
Surprisingly all the Regional Bloc Leaders, including President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, have been silent about the Manila-Tokyo deal, despite the potentially overarching consequences of the Bilateral Military Cooperation for ASEAN’s Stability and Peace.
This show of indifference is regrettable, considering the escalating tensions in the South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific. In the context of the growing hostility between the Philippines and China in the contested Waters recently, the Military Agreement will only create a new Problem rather than a Solution. And sooner or later, whether we like it or not, ASEAN will be dragged into the Conflict.
True, Article 2 on the Principles of the 2007 ASEAN Charter says all Members shall act according to mutually agreed principles including “respect for the right of every Member State to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion and coercion”.
But the Charter also mandates “enhanced consultations on matters seriously affecting the common interest of ASEAN”. This means the Philippines’ ASEAN Neighbors have the right to be informed about the purpose and context of the Military Pact.
This is also the case for Marcos’ decision to boost Manila’s defense alliance with Washington, including the opening of more Military Bases for the United States.”
In parting, The Jakarta Post writes, “ASEAN’s Passivity will only leave the Region vulnerable to becoming a Theater of Competition, if not War, between great Powers. ASEAN Leaders should talk loudly, clearly and in unison about the potential of the Philippines-Japan Military Pact to ruffle many Feathers in the Region and beyond.
The Leaders need to remind each other about the old Commitment to keep the Region as a Zone of Peace and Neutrality that outside Powers must respect.”
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| Indonesian Newspaper questions Philippines’ Defense Deals with US and Japan which endangers ASEAN |
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