(MANILA) Members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Advisory Council (ABAC) has finalized its recommendations for submission to the APEC Leaders to address challenges being faced by policymakers and businesses in APEC member-economies. ABAC 2015 Chair Doris Magsaysay-Ho, in a briefing Monday, said they expect their “two-fold” recommendations to generate new drivers of growth as well as address income inequality. She explained that the traditional growth drivers “are running out of steam.” “Export-led growth is […]
ASEAN Perspectives
For the first time, APEC 2015 to focus on MSMEs
By Caesar Vallejos Eagle News online correspondent (Eagle News) — For the first time, the Asia Pacific Economic Council (APEC) will focus on micro-, small-, and medium-sized sized enterprises (MSMEs) through the APEC SME Summit 2015 on November 17 that highlights innovation as the enabler in transforming entrepreneurs as competitive market players in the global marketplace. It will be held at the Green Sun in Makati City. “Innovation is a change of mindset that […]
Philippines doesn’t have a bilateral approach with China right now
Interview with Veteran Journalist and China Analyst Jose Santiago “Chito” Sta. Romana. As a China Analyst, he has given briefing on Chinese Foreign Policy and issues on Philippine-China relations to various government, non-government and media organizations.
Should the US patrol around China’s artificial islands?
By Andrew Chubb, UWA (Courtesy East Asia Forum) — The US defence establishment’s provocative plan to assert freedom of navigation by patrolling near China’s artificial islands in the South China Sea appears to have stalled. But if the United States abandons the policy it will forego an important opportunity to help stabilise Asia’s contested waters. In May, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter reportedly asked the US military to develop plans to send planes and ships within 12 nautical miles (nm) of China’s new […]
Malaysia’s troubles just beginning
By Andrew Harding, NUS (Courtesy East Asia Forum) — As it tussles with multiple crises of political legitimacy and governance, Malaysia has reached a decisive point in its more than half-century history as an independent nation. What started as a shocking but not exceptional scandal has turned into a political crisis of unprecedented proportions. This was underlined by the Bersih 4protests on 29–30 August in Kuala Lumpur, attended by an estimated 250,000 yellow-T-shirted Malaysians. First, it […]
PH & EU CO-CHAIR AN ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM (ARF) WORKSHOP
MANILA – The Philippines and the European Union co-chaired an ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Workshop on “Raising awareness and promoting ARF cooperation on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) risk mitigation” in Makati City, Metro Manila, on September 9 and 10, 2015. The workshop brought together 75 participants from the ASEAN member states, the European Union, Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand and the USA as well as the from the ASEAN Secretariat, the […]
APEC Finance Ministers launch Cebu Action Plan
(Eagle News) —Finance Ministers of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) concluded the 22nd meeting by launching the Cebu Action Plan, a roadmap for a more sustainable financial future for the Asia-Pacific region. Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima said that the “Cebu Action Plan” (CAP) that was launched on Friday, Sept. 11 was the “work of a region facing forward in steadfast cooperation amid complex challenges and opportunities.” “We hope the CAP emerges as the lasting […]
World Bank exec advises Asia-Pacific countries to invest in education to address inequality
(LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu) Asia Pacific countries should invest in education and social protection to address inequality within their economies and this includes the Philippines, a World Bank official said on Friday. In his message during the APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting here, World Bank Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific, Axel van Trotsenburg, said most poor households rely on labor as their only source of income. Making labor productive through quality education and skills […]
Philippines’ position on South China Sea issue gaining support, says Palace official
AUGUST 7 — The Philippines is pleased that its position in the South China Sea issue is already gaining support from members of the international community with stakes in the maritime dispute, a Palace official said on Thursday. Countries calling on China to stop its reclamation work in the South China Sea are beginning to understand the current realities and they are responding in the most appropriate manner, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said. “Kung […]
ASEAN makes united stand regarding Chinese land reclamation
KUALA Lumpur, Malaysia, August 5 (Eagle News) — The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) expressed concerns regarding the continuing land reclamation of China in the disputed territories in West Philippine Sea. The ASEAN also added that China should stop said reclamation activities. China, on the other hand, refused to discuss the issue of territorial dispute in the said meeting. (Eagle News Service Jay Paul Carlos, Jericho Morales, MRFaith Bonalos)
An Introduction to the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015: Thinking Globally, Prospering Regionally
(Courtesy ASEAN Secretariat) — The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is envisioned to be the realization of ASEAN economic integration by 2015. To guide the establishment of the AEC 2015, the AEC Blueprint was adopted in 2012 and serves as a master plan by underlining a strategic schedule of priority actions to be undertaken by the ASEAN Member States. The establishment of the AEC 2015 is being pursued under four pillars. The first pillar envisions ASEAN […]
The politics of Asian integration
By Seungjoo Lee, Chung-Ang University (Courtesy East Asia Forum) — Economic integration has steadily increased in East Asia. But the region still suffers from what South Korean President Park Geun-hye calls ‘Asia’s paradox’, the disconnect between economic interdependence and backward political and security cooperation. Any further economic integration will likely reflect political power shifts in the region. Between 1990 and 2012, intra-regional trade among the ASEAN+3 nations increased from US$562 billion to US$4,436 billion. This represented […]
