J. D. Poblete
Business World Online (Philippines)
WHEN the President flies to Phnom Penh, Cambodia for the 20th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit on April 3-4, he will push for political settlement on disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) and lobby against the planned rocket launch of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Aside from the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, China, Taiwan and Malaysia also have claims in the West Philippine Sea.
Apart from the perennial issue on maritime security, President Benigno S. C. Aquino III told reporters on Thursday that he will discuss at the ASEAN concerns such as mitigating global climate change, strengthening interconnectivity via a nautical highway, and perhaps even shortening the schedules of the ASEAN meetings so fewer trips will be necessary.
However, outside of ASEAN-centric topics, Mr. Aquino expressed "grave concern" over Pyongyang’s planned "satellite" launch this April 12-15.
"We urge again the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea not to proceed with its planned launch....," he said in a speech during the inauguration of the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea’s (PEFTOK) Korean War Memorial Hall on Thursday, at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, in Taguig City.
Mr. Aquino said that DPRK should consider leaving behind its reputation as a "pariah state," and emphasized that "the way forward is to engage the international community and return to actions that promote confidence-building among its neighbors."
Former President Fidel V. Ramos, who was present at the Taguig inauguration, has expressed doubts that the Philippines alone can persuade Pyongyang to abandon its plan.
"It is not we -- because we do not have any leverage at all to speak of -- but the US, South Korea, Russia, China especially, [that] have the clout to persuade the 27-year-old who just assumed office to change his mind because the launching of a rocket would affect the Philippines also directly," Mr. Ramos said in an ambush interview.
At an earlier press briefing on the ASEAN summit, Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for ASEAN Affairs Teresita V.G. Barsama admitted that Mr. Aquino would raise the DPRK issue on April 4.
"The Philippines is part of the drafting of the Code of Conduct and that is where we can incorporate the elements that we want in our proposal for the Zone of Peace, Freedom, Friendship and Cooperation," Ms. Barsama said. Mr. Aquino leaves for Cambodia on April 2.
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