US,China & Japan..ASEAN..Islamic Community (August 09)

Philippines and its bilateral relations with the US, China and Japan, Philippine foreign policy in the context of (ASEAN) Association of Southeast Asian Nation and Philippines and its relation with the (OIC) Organization of Islamic Communities were the topics discussed last August 09, 2010. I believe that strengthening Philippine relations with these three States can lead to the betterment of the economy however gaps due to different interests hinder them from establishing a solid bond just like in the case of the China and the Philippines over the South China Sea, who has the power to possess and control it? Not only that, what is the position of the US in this conflict? China has accused the US of interference in the regional dispute over territorial claims in South China Sea and that the US should not “internationalize” the issue where China and other nations have conflicting territorial claims.

Next, in relation with Japan, what were the agreements we had in the past that needs to be improved to ensure better economic relations, (JPEPA) Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement? But one of the most alarming initial findings on the JPEPA are the indicators that the Philippine government has agreed to make the Philippines a dumping ground of Japan’s waste products and hazardous wastes is not the only issue in this agreement that we have with Japan; there are so many lopsided provisions in JPEPA that need to be brought up to the attention of the Filipino people and concerned industries.

In relation with the US, although US has contributed a lot to the Philippines, just like the education system, we cannot hide also the fact that there are also issues between the Philippines and the US just like the Visiting Forces Agreement that has to be amended to achieve equality between the two states that has entered an agreement.

With the ASEAN, P-Noy had his first speech last August 09 stating all his plans regarding the Philippine foreign policy and to sum it up, he would like to have a greater relation with other member-countries of the ASEAN which leads to the development of the Philippine economy.

Lastly, is about the (OIC) Organization of Islamic Conference. We have all the talks and agreements with the Moros since this is one of the issues that the Philippines has been trying to resolved, but is it true that it would have been impossible for the Philippines and the Moros to establish a peaceful talks if it was not because of the OIC? Because I am not that familiar with the OIC and what I only know about it is that, we cannot be a member of this organization becuae majority of the population in the Philippines are Christians, we are not a Muslim country but in my own opinion, being an observer in the OIC should not be an issue since we have the Moros who are so determined with their sovereignty and also, the Muslims have the right to be informed.