The Philippines supports the elevation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) ties with the United States and India to a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said.
“The Philippines advocates and supports the granting of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to the United States for the most realistic and pragmatic of reasons: it remains, and in our view it will stay, the world’s leading force for the rule of law in international relations,” he said during the Asean Ministers’ Retreat in Cambodia.
“The first great power in history to be satisfied with international rules that all other countries and even competing powers can live by and work with to their benefit,” he added.
Locsin said he also looked forward to the convening of the proposed Asean-US Summit this year.
The Philippines’ endorsement of an Asean-India comprehensive strategic partnership, on the other hand, came days after Indian Minister for External Affairs Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited the country to reaffirm India’s strong bilateral relations with the Philippines.
“The Philippines extends all-out support to Singapore’s proposal to elevate the status of India to comprehensive and strategic partnership,” Locsin said.
Last February 14, Locsin said Asean and India could further enhance maritime cooperation.
Meanwhile, Locsin said Asean leaders and US President Joe Biden were expected to meet this year, as he announced Manila’s support for Washington to be granted strategic partner status by the regional bloc.
“We look forward to the convening of the proposed Asean-US Summit this year,” said Locsin, adding the date for the meeting was being finalized.
“Our leaders’ engagement with President Joe Biden will further strengthen the Asean-US Strategic Partnership, which is a principal pillar of the evolving regional architecture,” Locsin said
The US is one of the Western states that do not recognize Myanmar’s military leaders who seized power from Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government on Feb. 1 last year. Suu Kyi, 76, and other officials were detained by the junta, which established the State Administration Council now led by Hlaing as chairman.
Locsin said the Philippines supported the proposal of Indonesia, as Asean Coordinator with the US, for the activities to be tightly focused on “leaders-only activities” and opposed a plan to hold a meeting between members of the US Congress and the leaders of the regional bloc.
Locsin hoped the dates could be finalized “as soon as possible in view of important religious activities in our region such as the Holy Week and the Holy Month of Ramadan.” Both religious events would take place in April.