Manila tightened its security on Friday (August 4) ahead of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers’ meetings at the weekend.
The Philippines has upgraded its security to the highest level as the 50th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) takes place.
Increased traffic checkpoints, armored vehicles, and riot police standing on guard could be seen around the venue where the summit is expected to take place.
Police Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde, Regional Director of National Capital Region Police Office said the police are prepared for this large regional gathering.
“We have so many uniformed personnel to be deployed and also from other agencies, even from the armed force of the Philippines. We have the SWAT units all over. So, we are prepared for this,” he said
Foreign Ministers from 27 countries gathered in Manila for the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and other related meetings, which are being held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila.
The ASEAN foreign ministers meeting officially kicks off on Saturday (August 5) with an opening ceremony and meeting of the 10 ASEAN countries, followed by the Asia Regional Forum, which brings together 27 countries including Australia, China, India, Japan, Russia,
North and South Korea and the United States.
Political watchers say the talks this year will focus on expressing concerns about North Korea’s nuclear missile tests and regional security, while the South China Sea issue will take a back seat.
(Reuters, CCTV)