JAKARTA - The Philippines invites ASEAN to strengthen cooperation amid geopolitical pressures, cyber security threats, transnational crimes, and the Middle East crisis which has begun to drag in energy, food, and citizen safety issues.
The appeal was made by Philippine Foreign Minister Ma. Theresa Lazaro when opening the 31st ASEAN Political-Security Community Council Meeting in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Thursday, as reported by the Philippine News Agency. Thursday, May 7.
Lazaro said ASEAN must remain a "major driving force" in shaping the regional architecture amid an increasingly complex global situation.
"We continue to grapple with the deepening impact of the situation in the Middle East on energy, food, and the safety of our people," Lazaro said.
For Southeast Asia, the global pressure can be felt directly on energy, food, and citizen safety prices. This issue is also close to Indonesia, an archipelago country whose sea routes are the lifeline of trade and distribution of goods.
Lazaro also highlighted cyber security threats, transnational crimes, and maritime security as urgent issues that must be faced together.
The meeting was part of the 48th ASEAN Summit and related meetings held in the Philippines. As the chair of ASEAN this year, the Philippines is pushing for a regional stability agenda, maritime cooperation, food and energy security, and protection of Southeast Asian citizens.
Lazaro emphasized that maritime cooperation must be strengthened. He also supported the proposal to establish an ASEAN Maritime Center in the Philippines.
"As an area connected by the ocean, the maritime realm remains the center of our efforts to pursue stability and prosperity," he said.
ASEAN is facing layered pressures, ranging from global conflicts, cyber threats, cross-border crimes, to maritime security. Therefore, regional cooperation is an urgent issue in the meeting.
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