What can PH benefit from hosting ASEAN Summit? Geopolitical analyst explains

详细摘要

The financial cost of hosting the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits has been considerable for the Philippines, but a geopolitical analyst said Sunday that accommodating global…

The financial cost of hosting the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits has been considerable for the Philippines, but a geopolitical analyst said Sunday that accommodating global leaders could benefit the country in return.

Geopolitical analyst Dindo Manhit said the ASEAN Summit is an opportunity for the member states from the Southeast Asia region to cooperate with each other.

"Siguro tignan natin sa konteksto na isa tayo sa mga founding members ng ASEAN… Ngayon ay 11 na tayo at ito ay nagpapakita ng unity in diversity. Kahit papaano ang iba't-ibang bansa, at least nakakapagusap-usap, nakakapagtulungan," he told Super Radyo dzBB.

(Perhaps let's look at it in the context that we are one of the founding members of ASEAN... Now there are 11 of us, and this is a display of unity in diversity. Somehow, the different countries are at least able to talk and help one other.)

ASEAN was established on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand as its founding members.

The organization later welcomed Brunei Darussalam in 1984. Vietnam joined in 1995, while Laos and Myanmar came into the picture in 1997. Cambodia joined its ranks in 1999.

But Manhit said the hosting of the ASEAN Summit actually exposes the Philippines to countries outside of the region.

"Ang kagandahan lang dito, ang ASEAN - hindi man siya perpekto - ito ay pagkakataon ng isang bansa tulad ng Pilipinas na makilala, makausap ng ibang bansa labas sa ASEAN. Malakas ang ASEAN, ‘yung kanilang tinatawag na drawing power," he said.

(What is good about this is that ASEAN— even if it isn't perfect— is an opportunity for a country like the Philippines to be recognized and to talk to other countries outside ASEAN. ASEAN is strong, with what is called "drawing power.")

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