Philippine Intervention
delivered by
FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECRETARY TEODORO L. LOCSIN, JR.
during the
ASEAN Post-ministerial Conference Session with Australia
04 August 2021
Excellencies,
Australia is one of our oldest Dialogue Partners, a close neighbor in the region, indeed it is in the region; and a robust partner in combating COVID-19 and building back better as we say whistling in the dark. We’ve ventured to call it more, with the indulgence of my ASEAN colleagues: Australia is the anchor of ASEAN, hanging down there as a steadying force in the rising and ebbing geopolitical tides; rounding out our geographical distinctiveness, security, and the felicity of Southeast Asia. But that’s just the Philippines speaking.
The Philippines looks forward to the annual convening of the ASEAN-Australia Summit decided by our Leaders. This is a fresh opportunity for cooperation in strategic partnership, as we move towards full and complete implementation of the ASEAN-Australia Plan of Action for the period 2020-2024.
Australia is one of ASEAN’s strongest defense and security partners, particularly in the area of maritime cooperation. We appreciate Australia’s support for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and maintaining ASEAN Centrality in the evolving regional architecture.
The Philippines and Australia have a mutual interest in maintaining freedom of navigation and overflight, the exercise of self-restraint, and the peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea, in accordance with international law, particularly UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award. We welcome Australia’s support for the Award. The Award is the Philippines’ contribution to the strengthening of the legal order over the seas.
That said, the Philippines will not be swayed by any other security arrangement arrived at without its full participation; however many sides the arrangement may claim. We discourage unilateral commitments by self-selected parties as exercises in futility; given the distances between the parties of the last one announced. In such matters, it is best not to be impulsive but rather circumspect. For alliances are not sailing ships made to be fought; they must be clear expressions of indubitable intent and unquestionable capability that should discourage the need to fight at all.
As outgoing Country Coordinator for negotiations on the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea, the Philippines made such progress as it could on the COC. We are pleased that the Preamble is now provisionally agreed on. And have handed the baton to Myanmar.
On Myanmar, we are firm and unshakeable on the need to swiftly implement the Five-Point Consensus. The Chair’s Special Envoy must begin his work so unhindered humanitarian assistance be provided. For dialogue amongst involved parties to be effective, we call for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, other political detainees and Sean Turnell, her foreign economic adviser. An economist, for Chrissake; how much more harmless can he be.
Constructive dialogue is what the Five-Point Consensus calls for; it can only happen when everyone concerned is at the table.
We are all looking at hastening the recovery of our economies even in the pandemic. With our survival dependent on each other, it is vital that we keep trading, keep markets open and stabilize supply chains. Early ratification and entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership facilitates this.
The ASEAN-Australia Cyber Dialogue strengthens our partnership in tackling cybersecurity threats, creating a free and well-regulated international cyberspace, and protecting the integrity of business systems. We also acknowledge Australia’s assistance in promoting a secure cyberspace as online interactions and transactions increase in the pandemic.
The pandemic has undeniably taken a toll on our peoples’ well-being. Vaccines are the path away from infection, and we value Australia’s help in this. We additionally commend Australia for focusing on the mental health of our peoples, with the Roadmap on ASEAN-Australia Mental Health Cooperation.
Regional health security is also integral to our economic recovery. The ASEAN-Australia Health Security partnership is the framework for strengthening and deepening linkages to build the national and regional capacity of the health sectors. The link to illegal wildlife trade and zoonosis is of vital interest to the Philippines especially as host of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity.
Finally, the Philippines appreciates Australia’s interest to deepen cooperation through its proposal for a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. We favor it but we must both make a strong case for it. I have tasked my Permanent Representative to ASEAN in Jakarta to work closely with Australia’s Mission to ASEAN to that end. I congratulate Malaysia on its Country Coordinatorship; and convey our support to Lao PDR. Thank you.