PHILIPPINE EXTERNAL RELATIONS WITH
SOUTHEAST ASIA
- Estrella D. Solidum
pp. 91 – 102
1. Relationships between the Filipinos and peoples
from Southeast Asia have had a long history
- Trade, visit, intermarry, work, settle down,
conduct foreign relations and encourage
leaders to fight against colonial masters by
promising support
2. Two important objectives of Philippine external
relations
- 1Quest for freedom and 2preserving the unity
of country
- After independence, PH external relations
became the preservation of sovereignty in
cooperation with the states of Southeast Asia
3. concept of Southeast Asia is relatively new
- coined only in 1942
- as far as 1500 BC peoples of this region had
already interrelations
4. Nusantara – Island of Southeast Asia
- Historians saw a common regional history
5. Ismail Hussein – cited by Noel Teodoro
- “Modern Malaysian Literature”
- Nusantara – Malay peninsula, Indonesian
islands and Philippines
- In spite of ethnic cultural diversity, such
patterns as mentalities, sensibilities,
attitudes, experiences of nationalism,
revolution and social change are present
6. Charles Robequain 11954
- “Unity of the Malay World”
- Sea-borne trade that developed in the region
- Intense contact with the great Asian
traditions of China, India, and Islam and
later with Europe, as “strong cultural
influences”
- Before that time, the prebumi Nusantara or
the bumiputera was a shipbuilder and
navigato
7. Malay unity – seen in in the spread of Malay
language
- used for trade
- used by foreign preachers for the spread of
Islam and Christianity
- Pigafetta – Magellan’s chronicler, produced
a Malay word list from traders’ language
- 16th century – Malay language spread
throughout the archipelago
8. 16th century – Brunei’s golden age
- Brunei claimed sovereignty over Borneo
coasts, Sulu archipelago and Mindanao
- Forced Manila to pay tribute
- Spanish colonization put an end to the
Borneo-Manila political and economic
relations
- 1957 – Sultan of Borneo have written to
Chiefs Lakandula and Soliman of Manila to
attack the Spaniards, promising he would
support the natives
- ^signified the Muslim struggle against Spain
in insular Southeast Asia
9. Georges Coedes – “Unity of Culture”
- Unity brought about by common traits in
relation to cultivation, knowledge of
navigation , matriarchal family relationships,
belief in animism, worship of ancestors and
god of the soil, jar burials and a world view
of dualism of opposing forces
10. Malay identity – used by Jose Rizal and other
propagandists in asserting that the Filipino
people had an innate strength to rule themselves
11. 1800s – Filipino contacts with other states in
Southeast Asia were only as parts of the Spanish
naval activities
- Filipinos had good reputation as soldiers and
individuals
12. Spanish colonization – ended in December 10,
1898 with the Treaty of Paris for $20 million
13. During American Colonization some foreign
governments established consulates in Manila,
Davao and other cities
- Thailand was already independent at that
time, had an honorary consul in Manila
appointed from the Perkins Law Office
14. In 1943 Japan established an independent
Philippines
- PH had relations with Burma and Thailand
under the sponsorship of Japan in the
Southeast Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
15. PH regained independence in July 4, 1946 and
established the Third Republic
- PH was invited by other Asians and Africans
to conferences
- PH began to “rediscover” roots with Asian
neigbbors
16. Indonesia and Malaysia both claimed Jose Rizal
as their own hero
- Celebrated him as the Renaissance Man in
1996 and 1997
17. Philippine Revolution of 1898 encouraged other
colonies in Asia to struggle for their
independence
- 1899 Apolinario Mabini saw that the 1898
Filipino revolution brought the firs
experience of independence of as Southeast
Asian colony from Europe
- Jose Rizal was first in any Asian community
to proclaim the inalienable right of men
18. Sarkisyanz: bloodshed in the PH for
independence served as warnings to the Dutch
rulers of Indonesia
- “Culture policy” of the Dutch
- 1901, “Ethical Policy” was issued for the
Netherlands East Indies
19. Lessons of Rizal became the spark for national
independence of the first Pan-Indonesian
movement
20. Doctor Sutomo: spearhead of Indonesian
nationalism
- Familiar with Rizal
- 1945 freedom-fighters in Indonesia had
great interest in Rizal – “Ultimo Adios”
21. Other Indonesian leaders who referred to Rizal’s
life and struggle:
- Mohammad Husni Thamrin and Maramis
22. Indonesia held a major conference on Rizal in
Jakarta – 1997
23. In 1907 – Filipinos had been active in governing
the country although under the tutelage of
American officials
- PH foreign relation were very focused on the
US
- But the sentiment of Malayness was strong
among Filipinos
24. Malolos constitution of 1896 contained
democratic principles
25. Communist Party of the United States (CPUSA)
- Guided the communist movement of the
Philippines
- Sent many Filipino leaders and worker
pensionados to study in Moscow
26. Communist Part of the Philippines (CPP) was
organized in August 26, 1930, although it was
officially proclaimed in November 7, 1930
27. Saulo: socialist and communist ideas were
already circulating in the PH even before
American and Indonesian communist had
arrived
28. Evangelista – exposed to American leftists and
became a true, faithful Marxist
- Left Nacionalista party and set up the
Partido Obrero with a Marxist program
which later became the Partido Komunista
ng Pilipinas
29. Tan Malaka – co-founder of Partai Komunis
Indonesia
- Malaka and five Filipino delegates met in
Canton, China for the Pacific (Oriental)
Transport Workers’ Conference, they invited
him to go to PH
- Malaka befriended Filipino leaders like
Quezon, Recto, Jose Abad Santos, Francisco
Varona, Ramon Torres, Gregorio Perfecto
and Aguinaldo
- They did not see Malaka as a veteran
Communist organizer
- American Governor General George
Gilmore threatened to put up a case against
Malaka involving some prominent Filipinos,
this led to his deportation in August 22,
1927
- By the time he was deported, communism
had become “well-rooted” in the minds of
the Filipinos
30. Jose Ma. Sison – organized Kabataang
Makabayan (KM) on November 30, 1964
- Expelled by CPP
31. National Democratic Front 1980s to 1990s
engaged Government of the Philippine Republic
- NDF – projected a stance of a separate state
- N+NDF wanted the Socialist Republic for
Vietnam to host negotiations
32. Japanese landed in PH on December 1941 and
entered Manila on January 3, 1942
- Pres. Quezon and Vice Pres. Osmena of the
Commonwealth left the country for
Australia and US
- Quezon left administrative machinery to
executive secretary Jorge Vargas
33. Under instructions from the Japanese High
Command, Vargas organized the Philippine
Executive Commission as the national
administration in 1942
- It exercised both executive and legislative
powers
- Japan announced its intention of liberating
West Asians from the corrupting influence
of the west and create the Greater East Asia
Co-Prosperity Sphere
- Tojo: Philippines, Burma and China would
be liberated from foreign exploitation and
must cooperate with Japan
- Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong
Pilipinas (KALIBAPI) was organized in
order to plan and act for those objectives
34. Preparatory Commission for Philippine
Independence was established to draft a
constitution
- Final draft was written by Recto, Laurel and
Roxas
- Ratified by KALIBAPI
35. September 29, 1943 Laurel Aquino and Vargas
were invited to Tokyo for official calls with
Japanese officials
- Tojo: instructions for the Filipino leaders to
declare war against US and Britain
- Laurel said he could not comply to the
instructions about declaring war
 - Filipinos would not feel “decent” about
declaring war against US who had been their
ally and benefactor
- In comparison, Burma complied and
declared war on Western allies on August 1,
1943, while Thailand did so earlier on
January 25, 1942 and China on January 9,
1943
36. Laurel was made to sign a Treaty of Alliance
with Japan
- A defensive action
- Recto: it should be clear that Filipinos have
no allegiance to any foreign power
pp. 103 - 114
• Oct. 4, 1943- President Laurel sent a formal
proclamation of independence to some countries
(Japan, Burma, China, Thailand, all fellow members
of Co-Prosperity Sphere; to axis powers, France,
Germany etc.; to neutral states, Afghanistan, Spain,
Switzerland etc.
• To the United States: Laurel said: “we not asked
America to recognize and respect our independence”
• Assembly of Greater East Asiatic Nations, Nov. 5-6,
1943: to give substance to the independence of the
states which were members of the Greater East Asia
Co-Prosperity Sphere, an assembly was made
• Premier Tojo: trying to harness the growing anti-
imperialist movement for Japan’s benefit and to
make it difficult for the Western Colonial powers to
return to Asia
• Nations of Greater East Asia, mutually recognizing
the autonomy and independence, must establish
brotherly unity and mutual respect
• Laurel: A superior order of culture has existed in
Greater East Asia from the very beginning that in the
wide diffusion of the world of this culture lies the
salvation of the curse of the materialistic civilization
• The conference was one of friendship, cordiality and
pleasantness, and all countries were treated at par
with others –Laurel referring to the Assembly of
Greater East Asiatic Nations
• Declaration adopted by the assembly of Greater East
Asiatic Nations embodied 5 principles:
- Common prosperity, wellbeing based on justice
- Respecting one another’s sovereignty and
independence
- Enhancement of the culture and civilization;
respecting one another’s tradition
- Acceleration of economic development through
close cooperation and reciprocity
- Cultivation of friendly relations
• Physical Education Conference, Nov. 8, 1943:
Greater East Asia Physical Training Society and
which expressed support for the successful
conclusion of the war through physical cultureà not
focused on competitive athletics, but on physical
training
• Greater East Asia Press Conference, Nov. 17-18,
1943 and Greater East Asia Medical conference,
April 25-27, 1944
• Delegates visited Manila, Dr. Ba Maw said: He
admires Filipino courage and hopes one day that this
kind of courage will not be used against Asia but on
the side of Asia
• Japanese Cultural delegations went to Manila to
“nipponize” the South seas; on the other hand,
Filipino government pensionados were to study in
Japan
• Distinctive behavior of the Filipino leaders: they do
not comply with Japanese instructions
• Laurel had dodged the declaration of war on the
Western Allies on Sept. 1943
• Laurel declared a state of war between the Republic
of the Philippines and the US and Great Britain;
Sept. 23, 1943
• This was very well received by Ambassador Murata
who saw the asct as making the Ph republic, not only
as Japan’s most dependable ally but also as a
“comrade in arms fighting shoulder to shoulder at
the Eastern bulwark of Asia”
• Laurel: to render every aid assistance to the Imperial
Japanese Government short of conscription of
Filipino manhood for active military services
• Japanese high command created an armed body of
Filipinos independent from the Republic and directly
under the Imperial Forces. Such a force supplied
laborers
• August 1945- General MarArthur returned
• August 15 1945- a Japanese Foreign affairs official
formally notified the Philippine government of
Japan’s surrender
Foreign Relations of the Third Republic
• Upon the end of WWII, the Ph became a republic-
was called the Third Philippine Republic
• In the domestic scene: Filipinos began their self-rule
• In Foreign Relations, Ph leaders were not united in
the type of foreign policy to be adopted
Filipinos in Vietnam
PHILCAG V:
• Philippine interest in Vietnam after WWII was based
on: the anxiety over the temporary end of Vietnam
war with the defeat of the French forces
• The Geneva Agreements of 1954: ended the war
divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel
• The US feared that the “French theory of the falling
dominos” would come true if the US did not act to
contain communism at once
• The US prepared to set up a republican form of
government to replace the Bao Dai government at
the South
• To make the plan more acceptable to Vietnam and
the international community, the Philippines, (a third
country), being an Asian state was involved. Premier
Ngo Dinh Diem became the first president of this
Republic
• Diem’s government has problems:
- Lack of admin leadership after the withdrawal of
French
- Devastation of the country after the war
- Surreptitious entry of Vietminh forces into the
south to promote communism
- Lack of support of Buddhist majority
- Existence of many divisive groups
- Lack of human and material resources
• Oscar Arellano, Pres of Ph Jaycees, seeing the
worsening refugee condition prepared a plan for
humanitarian cation through “Operation
Brotherhood”
• The Ph became indirectly involved in Vietnam with
the resumption of war in 1957, US suffered heavy
losses to fight the communist guerillas
• The US organized the Southeast Asia Treaty
Organization (SEATO), Ph was one of the eight
members and one of the three Asian menbers
alongside with Thailand and Pakistan
• Ph did not send combat forces but instead sent the
Philippine Civil Action Group to Vietnam
(PHILCAG V)
• Even though the US pressured the members of
SEATO to share the burden of Vietnam war effort,
the Ph congress decided to send only economic and
technical assistance to South Vietnam
• The PHILCAG V pledged to “help build, not
destroy, to to bring Vietnamese people happiness
and not sorrow, to develop good will and not hatred”
• Summary of Activities and Accomplishments of
PHILCAG V (please refer to pp. 109-110)
Flashback: Filipinos in Vietnam in 1858-1863
• In 1858, Filipinos, called as Indios went to Vietnam
under a Spanish command to support the French
navy there
• Indochina referred to Asian mainland between India
and China
• French Indochina under the colonial domination of
France, consisted of three administrative regions
under France: Tonkin in the north, Annam, south of
Tonkin, and Cochin China in the South
• The old kingdom of Champa: was, according to
Jesuit historians, the most powerful Kingdom of
Indochina
• In the beginning of the 19th century, the three
kingdoms were consolidated to one- under the
Emperor of Annam
• 1802: new dynasty, the Nguyen began to rule,
Nguyen Anh ascended the Vietnamese throne as
Emperor Gia- Long
• Gia-Long tolerated Frenchmen and Christian
missionaries
• His successors has strong campaigns against
Europeans
• All foreigners were called to be “barbarians of the
West” and “foreign devils”
• Tu-Doc fought hard against French and Spanish
Mercenaries, Bishop Sanjurjo and Bishop Sampedro
were beheaded. Both are from the Dominican
province of the Ph
• The Spanish government allowed the French consul
to recruit 900 Indios for the French navy and all the
men needed to form an infantry company and
calvary squadron
• The first aggressive attck of French in its conquest of
the Indochina: the joint expeditionary fleet stormed
the fleet of Tourane and destroyed all other harbor
defenses
• A new Spanish colonial force from Manila arrived
aboard the French ship, Durance. Commander de
Lanzarote with other Spanish merchant vessels
carried supplies and war materials
• The Tagals (Tagalogs), called the Filipino soldiers in
the Spanish army were noted for bravey and
gallantry in action
• Mariano Ponce wrote in 1914 that Doroteo de
Guzman was the first to enter Vinh Long in Cochin
China, he snatched two flags from the enemy and
killing the bearer too.
pp. 115 – 126
Philippine Peacekeeping in Cambodia
The Philippines was committed to support UN
peacekeeping efforts in Cambodia; it was a continued
work of ASEAN to help Cambodia with its internal
conflicts and problems:
- Help them find a government of their choice that
would unite them
- Help them prevent foreign interference during
the turmoil
Socialist Republic of Vietnam helped replace Pol
Pot’s Khmer Rouge government with Hun Sen and Heng
Samrin.
 Vietnam’s agenda for Cambodia and Laos: “flexible
hegemony” (Vietnamization)
UNTAC- mandated to ensure the implementation of
Paris Agreement of 1991for a Comprehensive Political
Settlement of the Cambodia Conflict
PKO- mandated to monitor human rights, organize and
conduct elections, supervise military arrangements,
assist in civil administration, help in the maintenance of
law and order, the repatriation and resettlement of
refugees, and rehabilitation of essential infrastructure
Philippine Participation in UNTAC
The Philippines is actually committed to UN goals
of peace and security both in UN itself and under
Chapter VII, Articles 52, 53, and 54, to regional
approaches
ASEAN itself is the foremost regional organization
in Southeast Asia for peace, development and security.
But it lacked success in Cambodia due to the country’s
internal conflicts which overshadowed all appeals for
reason and unity.
The Philippines’ participation in Peacekeeping
Operation (PKO) has contributed to the effective
restructuring and modernization of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines.
The Philippine contingent were highly rated in their
performance of duty, frequently prompted and were
consistently commended by the UN Force Commanders.
UNTAC Special Representative of the Secretary General
Yasushi Akashi: “Your very capable Civilian Police,
Navy and Marines are committed and hardworking…
They are very visible despite the small size of the
contingent.”
Several assets of the PH contingent
1. Facility with the English language
2. Adaptability in getting along with locals
3. Driving skills
4. Computer literacy
5. Good discipline
6. Police skills for human relations and disaster
control
7. Courage and competence
Filipinos’ community-related tasks for Cambodians
- Teaching English to native Cambodians
- Rural electrification
- Boxing lessons to Khmers
- Basketball games with Cambodian youth
In return, Cambodia gave the Filipinos friendship and
trust.
The Philippine contingent trained representatives of
Cambodia’s five warring factions in police work, forcing
and persuading them to work together and cooperate
After a series of shelling in Pol Pot District, Senior
Inspector Laonglaan Goce led a tattered run of makeshift
ambulances.
Filipinos under him secured the most critical
polling places. It was here also that the Filipinos, using
statesmanship and courage, successfully negotiated for
the release of four multinational members of UNTAC
held hostage by Khmer Rouge. The KR insisted on
dealing only with trusted Filipinos.
There are a lot more untold services that PH gave
Cambodia and in return, the Cambodians, through Prince
Norodom Sihanouk, gave thanks. The UN records attest
to the performance of PH contingent in Cambodia.
Filipinos in Cambodia, King Norodom I
The reputation of the Filipino troops who were sent
with the Spanish contingent to Cochin China to quell the
Vietnamese attacks on the French in 1858 was well-
known in Asia. Even the victory of France in the long
war was partly attributed to Filipino soldiers.
Cambodia soon became a French protectorate on 11
August 1863 after the signing of the
Peace Treaty between the Asian colonies and the
European powers, after which relative peace and a
period of reconstruction prevailed for the moment,
ending confused and troubled history for Cambodia
The protectorate was respectful of the dignity of the
protected state.
It was in the period of King Norodom, that Filipino
troops were well spoken of. H8e treated Filipinos with
great respect and trust. He sent a word that he would
visit the Philippines in August.
1872 was the dark year of the Philippines. E The
mutiny in the Cavite Arsenal set off a major uprising
during which the leaders of the native clergy and young
men were executed. But his visit was somehow welcome
as it would have provide a break in the gloom for the
Filipinos to see an Asian King.
Don Jose Vicente de Aviles was placed in charge of
the reception committee. Royal guests were serenaded
by army band and presented with scores of musical
pieces with Spanish and Philippine origins. The king
also wanted to meet the brave men who fought in
Vietnam. The Spanish hosts chose Bulacan as the
province to welcome him because it was one of the
picturesque places in PH and that it was home to some of
the most beautiful women in the PH representing
mixture of Spanish, Chinese and Malayan features.
 The king was instantly enamoured by Josefa. He
proposed to it but declined because she has vowed to
devote her life to the service of God and her parents.
When he left Manila and reached Phnom Penh, he
promoted the officers of his Tagalog militia in
appreciation of his PH visit.
When King Norodom 1 died, he was descended by
his brother Sisowath and after him, he was descended by
King Norodom Sihanouk. He paid a visit in PH.
During his visit, PH and US pressured him to joing
SEATO (together with Thailand in supporting South
Vietnam against North Vietnam.
In 1970, Lon Nol staged a coup d’etat while Prince
Sihanouk was in Europe, gathering the Geneva powers
anew to affirm the neutrality Cambodia. Lon Nol was
whisked away by the Americans who could not accept a
neutralist. UST Secretary of State John Foster Dulles:
“neutralists are immoral.”
Laos
On October 1997, President Ramos made a visit to
the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and signed five
new bilateral agreements with Lao Prime Minister
Khamtay Siphandone. These agreements would be for
the revival of the Operation Brotherhood.
The unique fraternity and cooperation between PH
and Laos may be fully appreciated within the framework
of Operation Brotherhood, the spirit of which helped in
bringing back life and hope to people who found it
difficult to rise from their abject conditions.
How Operation Brotherhood Began
Architect Oscar Arellano (vice president for Asia of
Junior Chamber international), when he visited Vietnam
was appalled at the sight of refugees fleeing from
fighting in the north. At the same time, he was inspired
by the sight of young intellectuals giving off their time,
money and skills to help these refugees. He thought
there was the chance where the Jaycees creed could be
transformed into deeds.
He presented a plan to the Jaycees Regional Offices
for Asia to assist Jaycees of Vietnam in their program
for the war refugees. When approved, it was the OB.
Through all its chapters in Asia, the Jaycees
supported the operation as led by the Philippines. At the
JCI World Congress in Mexico City in 1954, 57 Jaycee
countries unanimously adopted OB as an international
project.
OB in Vietnam
From the end of the battle in Dien Bien Phu from
1954 to 1956, it started establishing its work. OB
medical, agricultural, and social teams were
multinational in membership. The expertise was of very
high quality.
The work of OB had no ideological color at all. It
was purely humanitarian and was carried on by young
people whose idealism and care for humanity were
testified to by the OB record in Vietnam at the end of
1956.
Results:
1. Gratefulness of the people
2. Release of Filipino captives
OB in Laos
The country, though potentially rich, was in an
extreme stage of underdevelopment.
It was established in Laos as a Filipino undertaking.
OB-L was never designed to be an aid program.
Instead, it provided the villagers with several
opportunities in helping themselves and developing their
natural talents, so they can achieve their destinies in the
way of freemen.
0B-L:
1. First job was treating disease
2. Assisted the Royal Lao government in looking
after the refugees in Luang Prabang
3. Had a small boat named Mutya ng Pasig which
brought doctors and nurses to villages that
haven’t seen any doctor before
In a typhoon in Phong Saly, part of a roof of a building
that tore off fell on Abner Jomada. He was buried in
Libingan ng mga Bayani
4. Trained young men and women in basic
functions of nursing. Doctors gave several
courses
5. Developed demonstration farms
6. Taught the people to raise livestock that went
into feeding hospital patients and OB personnel
7. OB-L social workers and home technologists
taught housewives proper home management
and boys were trained by Filipino technicians to
repair, do carpentry work and become skilled
workmen
Chao Sopsaisana, president of Junior of Chamber of
Laos: “OB is a rare instance of people from one country
helping those of another land without exploiting them,
giving to them without asking anything in return. OB
was not concerned with nations and anonymous masses
but with individuals, families and individual villages.”
Dr. Albert Sweitzer, Nobel laureate and medical
missionary to Africa: “belief in oneness of all men has
been a creed but the Filipino program has professed it in
deed.”
pp. 127 – 138
Philippine Relations with Malaysia: Effects of the
Sabah Claim (127-138)
Relations between the Ph and Malaysia became troubled
between 1963 to 1988 through conflicting claims over
Sabah.
July 10, 1946 – british govt annexed territory of North
Borneo without advice to Ph.
1963 – Sabah was incorporated into newly established
Federation of Malaysia as Great Britain had turned it
over to Malaysia = and this precipitated conflict
Philippine claim to Sabah is based on historical and
legal grounds.
1. 1704 – North Borneo was ceded to Sultan of
Sulu by Sultan of Brunei as a reward for helping
suppress rebellion in Brunei, however, Jan. 22,
1878, Austrian Consul Gen of Hongkong: Baron
von Overbeck, had an agreement with Sultan of
Sulu to lease North Borneo to British Merchant
Alfred Dent (succeeded by British North Borneo
Company and rented for another lease). Yet in
1898 where American regime in Ph was
established, Bates Treaty was signed where
sovereignty of Sultan over Sulu archipelago
ended, except N. Borneo. In 1957, the Sultan
cancelled the lease to British North Borneo
Company.
2. The legal aspect here lies between the
agreements between parties. Ph has the
document signed by Dent in contract 1878 as
lease to Sultan of Sulu. And the company was
not a state, and has no sovereignty to cede to
UK, hence sovereignty remain to sultan of Sulu.
And other arguments for Ph claim
3. 1962 – a virtue of deed from Kiram heirs,
sovereignty of N. Borneo was transferred to Ph Govt
*Spanish use word arrandamiento and English padjak =
lease, however, misinterpreted by Britain and Malaysia
into cession.
Malaysian claim
1. Great Britain turned Sabah over to Malaysia in
1963, making Malaysia successor of sov over
Sabah
2. US ascertainment plebiscite in 1963 that shows
vote of Sabahans be a part of Malaysia
3. Ph constitution does not include Sabah in their
delineation of geographical limits
4. Manila accord of 1963 where it recognized
Malaysian sov over Sabah
Philippine attempted twice to submit Sabah case to ICJ
1. During London talks in 1963
2. February 1964 in a meeting between Pres.
Macapagal and Malaysian PM Abdul Rahman in
Phnom Penh,
Cambodia
*Ph withdraw its embassy in Kuala Lumpur and
Malaysia closed its embassy in Manila. In 1968,
relations were normalized but remains poor, and
led to non- convening of one Ministerial Council
Meeting of ASEAN in 1969
After Martial Law was declared in Sept 21, 1972, it was
followed by Muslim rebellions in Mindanao, spurred by
Jabidah Massacre of 1968. In 1971, it is reported that
rebels were receiving foreign aids, and Malaysia allowed
MNLF to have 3 bases in Sabah. From 1972 to 1974 –
Malaysia was involved bcos Chief of State of Sabah Tan
Mustapha wanted to create an independent Muslim
country including Sabah and other southern Ph.
In 6 Aug 1977, second ASEAN summit meeting, Marcos
announced that PH is taking definite steps to eliminate
burdens of ASEAN (Ph claim to Sabah) = bcos it should
be contribution to unity, strength, and prosperity of all
ASEAN, however he reserved the claims to the decision
of Kiram heirs. Hence, Malaysia demanded for removal
of Sabah in PH constitution.
Under Aquino Admin, DFA made a statement to
withdraw the PH Sabah claim. And in 1988 onwards, it
warmth the two country’s relationship.
In March 26, 1994, Ramos created East ASEAN Growth
Area to put together North Indo, South Ph, East
Malaysia and Brunei into sub- regional economic area
The Spratlys Issue in PH- Sea Relation
1947 – first PH claim to spratlys, where DFA sec
demanded New Southern Islands be given to PH
1956 – Tomas Cloma asserted ownership over Spratly
Island Group based on discovery and occupation of the
territory, which Cloma renamed ‘freedomland’.
Steps in legal claim
1. In 1971, Ph govt sent a diplomatic note to Taipei
demanding Chinese garrison (who threatened Ph
 security) on Itu Aba (largest island in the group)
be withdrawn.
2. 1978 – Marcos declared PD 1596: placing ost of
islands under Kalayaan Island Group
*PD 1596 PD 1599 = proclaim a 200 mile
exclusive economic zone for PH, allowed PH
gov to issue licenses and enter within agreement
into the zone
The ff are claimants to Spratlys:
1. PRC
2. RC or Taiwan (*both claiming historic rights
since Yuan Dynasty before 1400s)
3. Vietnam – which claims French succession
4. Malaysia – 1980 claimed continental shelf
5. Brunei
6. PH (thru Tomas Cloma’s occupation and
proclamation in 1956)
*PH claimed that Spratlys are case of territorium nullius
– a territory over no effective sovereignty and open for
occupation for ownership
Legal grounds for PH claim:
1. Islands are part of continental margin of PH
archipelago
2. Islands do not belong to any state and PH made
an effective occupation
3. Claims by other states had lapsed bcos of
abandonment
Spratlys seems valuable bcos:
1. Reports of oil and minerals under the sea
2. Strategic in location
3. Provision of political advantages to prospective
owner
*Indonesia said that claimant states should resolve
conflict peacefuly. ASEAN also adopted Manila
Declaration of 1992 where claimants agreed to settle
conflicts peacefully
MNLF and role of Indonesia
Muslim Independent Movement evolved into MNLF
which was publicly launched in 1968.
Libya’s Pres Muammar Ghadafi - committed to support
MNLF in 1972 by sending military and other assistance.
It also included strategic directions to enhance MNLF’s
connections with other countries, especially OIC.
OIC – included Moro struggle in their 3rd conference in
Jeddah in 1972 and called on Marcos govt to guarantee
rights and security to Moro people.
MNLF demanded in sixth OIC in Jeddah as they aspire
full membership:
1. Self- govt of Mindanao, Basilan, Sulu, Palawan
2. Internal security force composed of MNLF and
other security groups
3. Dismantling of all PH govt armed forces in
Moro Homeland
4. System of Shariah courts
5. Control of elem and secondary education by
local govt
6. Moro control of all Muslim inst and all
economic affairs of the region
7. Full ad free participation of Moro people in
central govt
*7th OIC Conference in Istanbul in 1976 gave full
support to MNLF, however in Tripolo Agreement in 23
Dec 1976, it provided basis of final solution to Moro
problem without sacrificing PH sov.
In 1992 – under Pres. Ramos, announced one of pillars
of govt is pursuit of long term stability and peace. And
he created Natl Unnification Commision thru leadership
of Yorac which would achieve peace thru negotiated
settlement with leftist rebels. Negotiattions continued in
Jakharta, Indo hosting all leaders and members. PH govt
and MNLF created Mixed consti to look at structure and
mechanism of ARMM. Hence, the govt position was the
final signing of agreement shall be done in PH. Bcos
issues should be resolved within framework of natl sov.
Regional Cooperation in SEA
Ph policy for regional cooperation was first articulated in
1947
According to Dr. Salazar – Filipinos share a common
heritage with ther SEA or with other Asian peoples
Ph Langugae belongs to broad family of laguanges
called Austronesian or Malayo- Polynesian
Malaysian leaders accepted Rizal as the pride of Malay
race
Pan Malayan Union – founded in 1880s. jose Rizal
exhorted the Filipino propagandists to look for Filipino’s
identification with their Malayan heritage
Rizal’s edition of Morga led the propagandists in
rediscovering their Malayan identity tru history of Ph:
1. Pardo de Tavera – read ancient Ph alpahbets on
Sanskrit loan words
 2. Paterno – write on ancient Tagalog civilization
3. De los Reyes – ancient Filipino religion
4. Lopez Jaena – read chronicles on conquest of
islands of Malaysia
Rizal wrote that Malayan Filipiinos traded with
neighboring countries and it was Spanish colonizers who
calls indolent Filipinos. He also created Filipino orgs =
Indios Bravos in paris. And this Pan- Malayan
consciousness was a legacy of Propaganda and
Revolution. . hence, Filipinos were the Malays of the
Malays and the Tagalog language was one of the purest
Malay dialects. Malayan consciousness grew as other
Asian countries began considering Rizal as Great
Malayan.
Wenceslao Vinzons – boosted pan- malaysianism as he
talked of United Malaysia thru Malay Peninsula thru
islands of Polynesia. Developed pan- Malayan union.
Pres. Macapagal implemented policy for MAPHILINDO
in Aug 6 1963
pp. 139 – 150
The Asians Relations Conference of 1947 (23
March – 2 April 1947)
Allied countries in search for solutions to emerging civil
conflicts
George G. Marshall mediated between the warring
Chinese communists and Kuomintang forces
Permanent Court of Justice received the first dispute
referred to it for settlement, The Corfu Channel Case
(between Britain and Albania)
Britain granted freedom to India
The Asian Relations Conference (ARC) - Non-
government in nature
Agenda of the conference
1. National freedom movements in Asia
2. Racial problems and inter0racial migration
3. Cultural affairs
4. Agriculture and Industry
5. Transition from colonial to national economy
6. Labor problems and social services
7. Status of women and women’s movement
The conference stressed Asian Unity and the problems of
newly emerging states
New Delhi Conference of 1949
Return of colonial powers were resisted by nationalists-
Indonesians fought for independence for many years
Dutch Police Action threatened Indonesia
India was enjoying good prestige in international affairs
- (1947) India organized the ARC with the idea of
starting Asia unity
- During the Dutch invasion India saw itself as the
responsible leader in Asia
The primary aim of the conference was to consider the
problem of how Asian nations can help the UN Security
Council provide a solution to the Indonesian problem
Three tasks for the conference:
1. Submit certain proposals to the security council that
would restore peace to Indonesia and allow early
realization of freedom
2. Suggest action which the security council can take if
either both of the disputing parties fail in acting
according to its recommendation
3. Participants devise a machinery and procedure by
which the governments presented in the conference
can communicate
Philippine policy favored the restoration of the
Indonesian Government’s authority over its territories
Carlos P. Romulo suggested a continuing machinery be
established to serve as a clearing house of information
essential to the actions by the various governments
Romulo under the instructions of President Quirino
established the machinery for a permanent Asian
regional bloc
- Strengthen the forces of democracy and prevent
other ideologies from capturing the faith of Asia
This machinery was set up on 1977 when an ASEAN
Central Secretariat was established in Jakarta
Pandit Nehru (Prime Minister) and General Romulo –
counted upon to shy away from fostering racial or
geographic antagonism
1949 April 4 – Pravda attacked Nehru for being anti-
Soviet
Nehru made it clear that his intention was to act within
UN agencies (he did not expect for an Asian bloc to
arise)
PH – emphasized the intrusion of communist threat
The Pacific Union, 1949
First attempt of the PH government to initiate an
organization for cooperation among states in Asia –
formation of the pacific Union
President Quirino – concept of preserving the
independence and sovereignty of Asiatic and Pacific
countries
- Reflect on the problem on how the Pacific can
contain the common threat of communism
The Pacific Pact was given a military basis (to attract
support from US)
- This received no encouragement (US and India
stated that the time was not yet ripe for an Asian
pact)
- Despite the lack of support Quirino still pursued the
idea
1949 July 4, Quirino formally proposed the Pacific
Union which was favorably received by Gen. Chiang
Kai-Shek and Syngman Rhee of South Korea
- He invited them to have a conference at Baguio City
on 10-11 July 1949
- He emphasized that if the idea was to be realized it
would attract the support of US
- His belief that the reluctance of US stemmed from
the lack of solidarity of Asian nations
Talks in Baguio included the following:
1. Pacific Alliance as an anti-communist, economic,
and cultural front of Asian nations (led by the US)
2. Establishing a home in exile for Chiang
3. Economic collaboration among non-communist
countries in the far-East
4. Problem of PH recognition of a communist China
It underlined the menace of communism as a threat to
Asia
Formulation of Foreign Policy for a regional anti-
communist group was a unilateral act of Quirino
- The Nacionalista Party reminded that other countries
had declared a hand-off policy to the China situation
- That the commitment made by Quirino was most
likely repudiated not only by Congress but by the
people themselves
- House Minority Floor leader Cipriano Primicias
stated that the several internal problems of the
country it did not call for an urgent involvement in
the China situation
- Claro M. Recto states that instinct of self-
preservation should deter us from commitments that
might drag us into conflict
- Recto endorsed the idea of Romulo of a “Third
Force” dedicated to peace and Asian freedom and
unity
Quirino gave instructions to Ambassador Romulo to set
the machinery for the formation of the Union
Romulo stated in his reports that Asian countries were
wary about the Pacific Union
- Given that the proponents were all weak nations
Even with the negative reports Quirino scheduled a visit
to Washington
- Stated that he was determined to carry out the plan
and fight if ever their freedom was to be threatened
again
- In the end a joint Truman-Quirino communique was
issued (1949 August 7)
o This expressed sympathy for Asian efforts but held
no commitment from the Truman administration
Baguio Conference of 26-30 May 1950
Quirino was undaunted in developing close relations
with Asian states
PH leaders desired to acquire prestige among Asian
leaders
- Need to modify the image of an American-oriented
PH
Quirino made another attempt to call Asians to another
conference (wanted to include Middle East countries)
- All-encompassing Democratic League of the Far
East
- None of the Middle East were invited
- Need to limit the agenda (to accommodate a big
number of delegates)
First gathering of fully independent states of Southeast
Asia and Western pacific
Goals of the conference:
1. Mutual discovery among Asians and agreement to
mutual counsel for solution of common problems
2. Translation of the yearning of peace to reality
3. Security and stability in the region
4. Regional association and regional action within the
framework of the UN
The problem of the region had both nation and
international aspect
Romulo suggested viewing the common problems
against a background of revolutionary changes in the
world
The problem of survival with peace met by the following
means
1. Regionally determined methods
2. Non-governmental conferences
3. Bilateral action
4. Inter-governmental conferences
5. Periodic consultative conferences
6. Full cooperation with the UN
Quirino’s emphasis on solving problems through internal
and international effort
By developing national personalities contributes to the
development of world civilization
Pantjasila – expression of Indonesia’s spiritual outlook
which gives a sense of life-harmony as old as Indonesia
The Baguio conference did not help bring the realization
of the desired goals of the Philippines
- No agreement for mutual counsel for the solution of
common problems
pp. 151 – 162
Association of Southeast Asia (ASA), 1961
• On July 31, 1961, Prime Minister of the
Federation of Malaysia, and the Foreign
Ministers of the Kingdom of Thailand and the
Republic of the Philippines, meeting in
Bangkok, established the ASSOCIATION OF
SOUTHEAST ASIA (ASA).
o In the Bangkok Declaration of 1961,
which serves as an instrument of the
establishment of ASA, is where the
three ministers agreed on the need to
uphold the ideals of peace, freedom,
social justice, and economic well-being
by active cooperation among nations.
o Through ASA, the three nations could
engage in mutual economic and
cultural cooperation with the aim of
enhancing the welfare of their nations
and promoting better understanding
and mutual cooperation among their
peoples.
o Furthermore, ASA was to serve as an
effective mechanism for friendly
consultations and collaboration in the
economic, social, cultural, scientific
and administrative fields.
• With regard to the said Bangkok Declaration of
1961, it is an embodiment of the initial plan or
agreement between Philippine President
Carlos P. Garcia and Prime Minister of
Malaya Tungku (Malaysia) Abdul Rahman.
o Rahman believed that a closer tie must
be forged between the Philippines and
Malaya.
o Furthermore, he said that the goals that
are laid down are to be achieved through
mutual consultations and voluntary
cooperation. Rahman wanted as many
Southeast Asian states as possible to join
the Association and had in fact
communicated with the idea.
• In the beginning, it is important to consider that
there were conflicting views among Southeast
Asian nations regarding the said Rahman-Garcia
Agreement.
o Burma: agreeable to such agreement
but believed that their country needed
more time to focus on their internal
problems and did not want to
compromise its non-alignment policy by
joining a multi-lateral agreement.
o Indonesia: while supporting close
cooperation among SEA nations, it felt
that a new organization might create
suspicion in other countries, thus
hindering cooperation. Furthermore,
Indonesia prefers a bilateral cooperation
than multi-lateral.
o Cambodia: it maintains a neutral
position by keeping out of multilateral
groups which tended to divide nations
across the globe into regions or blocs.
• Amid the disagreement of other SEA nations on
ASA, it cannot be denied that it is the first idea
for Southeast Asia organization.
o There was a preliminary meeting
between the Malaya and the Philippines
in order to concretize the goals of the
association and the general ideas of the
plan and obviate protracted deliberations
which attend large gatherings.
o Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia,
Laos, and Indonesia were invited to a
summit, but only Thailand showed
interest to the ASA.
• Important engagements within ASA:
o Joint research on rubber, fisheries,
oceanography, etc.
o Exchange of radio and television
information and personnel.
o Promotion of SEA studies, cooperation
in anthropological, archaeological, and
historical studies.
o Exchange of youth and women leaders
and social workers.
 o Support for the election of a Philippine
official as Colombo Plan Public
Information Officer.
o Cooperation on civil aviation and the
formation of an ASA Airline.
o Waiver of visa fees for ordinary visas
and waiver of all visa requirements
for holders of diplomatic and special
passports.
o ASA coach from Singapore to Bangkok.
o Study of equivalence and accreditation
of degrees among universities in ASA
states.
o ASA scholarship and lectureship
exchange program.
o ASA Fund
o Cooperation on shipping, tourism, trade
policies, trade fairs, and exhibition.
o Participation of private sectors such as
bankers association, tobacco growers,
radio broadcasters, private universities
in ASA cooperative activities.
o Common positions in international
bodies.
• ASA got suspended for a time, due to the
conflict between the Philippines and Indonesia
and the formation of the Federation of Malaya
in 1963.
• During ASA’s revival in 1966, it then touched
on political issues. One political problem is the
application of China and Vietnam in the ASA.
o For Thailand, ASA should be revived
first before it expands its membership.
Furthermore it believed that China is
not a part of SEA and so therefore has
no chance to be accepted as a member.
• ASA was for regional and national
development. It also paved the way for greater
cooperation in the social and economic fields by
reducing the long-existing mutual suspicions
among the members. In terms of ASEAN
cooperation, ASEAN’s preparation time for
cooperative activities had been shortened by the
activities and goodwill of ASA.
MAPHILINDO, 1963
• A greater Malayan Confederation of the
Philippines, Federation of Malaya, Singapore,
and the British territories of Sarawak, Brunei,
and North Borneo (Sabah) was proposed by
President Diosdado Macapagal.
o At first, the said proposal did not
include Indonesia due to its stand with
regard to Asian regional bloc such as
ASA.
o Macapagal believed that: “the time has
come when we, the Malay people, must
try to discover a new and broader basis
for more effective cooperation and
unity… The unity of the Malay peoples
is the business of the Malay peoples.
We must forge it ourselves by our own
efforts out of our sense of history and in
recognized community of interests. We
should not accept a European project
as a substitute for an Asian project,
planned and carried out by Asian
themselves, in the true and enduring
interest of the Asian world…”
o The proposed Confederation was a plan
to offset the failure of the Philippine
government regarding its claim to
Sabah. It shows the anxiety of the
Philippines with regard to the
integration of Sabah into the British-
proposed Federation of Malaysia. The
Philippines has outstanding claims
over Sabah through legal documents
but the British government refused to
discuss the claim and referred to the
government of Malaya which was now
incorporating Sabah into the
Federation.
• The Tungku-Sukamo meeting held in Tokyo
(June 7 1963) paved the way for the three
leaders of Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia
(President Macapagal, Rahman, and Sukamo) to
explore the possibility of MAPHILINDO.
However the three states are pursuing policies
with conflicting objectives.
o On the part of the Philippines, the most
repeated themes of policy goals are:
§ Peace and security in SEA
§ Respect for sovereignty of states
§ right to self-determination of
dependent peoples in the region
§ union of Malay peoples
§ Asian solution for Asian
problems
§ Defeat of communism
§ Pacific settlement of disputes
pp. 163 – 179
1962-1965 – period during which the conflict were
intensifying
The most repeated themes were:
1. Peace and security in SEA
2. Respect for sovereignty of states
 3. Right of self-determination of dependent
peoples in the region
4. Union of Malay peoples
5. Asian solution for Asian problems
6. Defeat of communism
7. Pacific settlement of disputes
LONG RANGE GOAL OF PHILIPPINE
FOREIGN POLICY: establishment of
MAPHILINDO
SHORT RANGE GOALS: consist of initiral steps
such as establishment of machinery for frequent
consultations or consensus-making called
mushawarah and settlemet of the Borneo claim
These problems of konfrontasi and Sabah
ownerships were two of the problems in SEA which
involved much foreign intervention
Robert F. Kennedy made a fast three-nation tour in
mid –January 1964 to get the Malaysian dispute “out
of the jungles” and parties “around a conference
table.” His twelve day peace-making mission was
to find a solution to the Malaysia problem within the
MAPHILINDO concept
Pakistan, as a friend of all three countries involved
in the Malaysia dispute, could contribute to an early
settlement
One of Macapaga;’s goals for the policy of regional
cooperation was to secure the region from
communism
The Philiipines, through its policy to form
MAPHILINDO, had also hoped to bring about the
unity of Malay peoples by restoring their historic
traditions and common heritage and using these to
serve their own interest and the region by
establishing lasting peace and stability
The main reason for the ill fate of Maphilindo was
the extreme divergences in the interpretations of
their commonly accepted goals
The lack of congruence in their views resulted in the
absence of the word communism in Manila
Declaration and in specifying colonialism and
imperialism as the threats to the region
Another problems that arose was the failure of the
three countries to perceive correctly one another’s
intentions
The Philippine’s interest as a peacemaker, its claim
to Sabah, and the region’s stability and peace would
not be served if the Philippines allowed itself to be
identified with Indonesia’s confrontation policy
In 1964, the PH government undertook an extension
of its foreign policy of cooperation with its
neighbors by trying to expand the proposed
membership of MAPHILINDO to include such
neutralist countries as Cambodia, Laos, Burma,
Thailand and strife-torn Vietnam.
Shinanouk rejected outright Philippine feelers for
Cambodia to join Maphilindo -> due to ideological
and political differences
MAPHILINDO Mushawarah never had the
chance to bring about the cultural. Economic and
social exchanges for the development pf the people’s
general well-being because all the efforts were
concentrated on the political questions of the Sabah
claim and Konfrontasi
The period of Konfrontasi showed how much the
perceptions of each of the three states diverged from
one another and how much they distrusted one
another instead of bringing unity and brotherhood
which were the very goals of the cooperation
Southeast Asian Ministers of Education
Organization (SEAMEO) 1966
Several organization on educational cooperation for
social, cultural and technological development exist
in the region, the major ones:
1. Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)
2. Association of Southeast Asian Institutions
of Higher learning (ASAIHI)
3. Southeast Asian Ministers of Education
Organization (SEAMEO)
SEAMEO – organized in 25-28 November 1966
US Secretary of State George C. Marshall – his
European Recovery Program or popularly called
Marshall Plan for Europe
As o 1998, the SEAMEO members are Brunei
Darussalam, Cambodia, Indoesia, Lao’s People’s
Republic
Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
Vietnam.
Subsequent meetings developed SEAMEO. Regional
centers were established:
 1. Regional English Language Center (RELC)
in Singapore
2. Regional Center for Graduate Study and
Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) in the
Philippines
3. SEAMEO Central Coordinationg Boards for
Tropical Medicine
4. Regional Center for Tropical Biology
(BIOTROP) in Indonesia
5. Regional Center for Education Innovation
and Technology (INNOTECH) in the
Philippines
6. Regional Center for Architecture and Fine
Arts (SAFA) in Bangkok
7. And Vocational and Technical Education
(VOCHTECH) in Bruinei
Most of the projects were almost completely funced by
the US Government. SEAMEO has four associate
members, Australia, Canada, Frane and New Zealand
Although SEAMEO was intended to operate within the
framework of a higher regional organization such as
ASEAN, there is no formal working relationship
between the two organizations
Formation of ASEAN, 1967
The idea of another, more inclusive regional
organization was offered by Thailand’s Foreign Minister
Thanat Khoman to Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Adam
Malik furing a reconciliation meeting of the Leaders of
Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia in Bangkok to end
konfrontasi
Together with the states of Indonesia, Malaysia,
Thailand and Singapore, the Philippines drafted a plan
for the new groupings
The PH maintained that the new organization should not
be a military nor an anti-Communist league; problems of
security should be discussed frankly but each state
should be left in upholding its own institutions
When three drafts of plan were being reconciled, the PH
was found to differ with the others on three points:
1. The inclusion of a provision on foreign bases
and regional security
2. Restrictions on the admission of new
members specifically the exclusion of Japan,
Australia and other developed states
3. The non-inclusion of the Philippine claim to
Sabah
The first Heads of Government Meeting was held in
Bali, Indonesia on 23-27 February 1976. This was soon
followed in Kuala Lumpur in 1977. And the thirs
meeting to be held in Manila was held only in 1988
because of the lingering problems between Malysia and
the Philippines
Chapter IV of the ASEAN Concord and the Treaty of
Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia of 24 February
1976 provide for a High Council to which disputes may
be brought
Low-key Dimplomacy – effective when the mediators
are very well accepted for their own integrity by all
parties involved. This kind of diplomacy has been very
useful as an Asian way of doing things
In response to failure of the PH government to ban the
meetings, the Indonesian government threatened to
withdraw its help in the ongoing talks between the PH
government and the MNLF.
However, with the support of the Organization of
Islamic Conference and Indonesia, the MNLF arrived at
an agreement with the government finally leading to
peace within its fold.
ASEAN, acting in unity, consistently invokes the Manila
Declaration of 1992 which binds everyone to the
peaceful settlement of disputes over territory in the
South China Sea
Bangkok Declaration of 1967 – states that foreign
military bases are temporary in anture and will continue
to exist only with the expresses concurrence of the
countries concerned
President Ferdinand E. Marcos took the bold initiative
to achieve full sovereignty for the country and to achieve
closer relations with the other ASEAN states
On 14 August 1976, Marcos made a sweeping review of
Philippines foreign policy since 1966 and established his
six-point foreign policy guidelines:
1. Intensification and broadening of PH relations
with the ASEAN
2. Establishemnt of diplomatic relations with
socialist countries
3. Closer indentification with the Third World
4. Continuation of beneficial relations with Japan
5. Support for the Arab countries struggle for a just
peace
6. Maintenance of a healthy relationship with the
US compatible with the emerging realities in
Asia

Marcos wanted the American to observe the PH laws.
He also wanted to project an Asian-oriented PH foreign
policy consistent with the strengthening of relations with
ASEAN partners
The withdrawal of the US military from the PH
contributed to the formation of the ASEAN Regional
Forum for security in the Asia-Pacific Region
In 1988, the US pushed for the conclusion of the Status
of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the PH. The latter
renamed SOFA into VFA ir Visiting Forces Agreement
It was ASEAB which worked for more than 12 years for
a negotiated peace until UNTAC took over towards the
end, to establish Cambodia’s elected government in
1993.
Marcos announced that he would take steps to withdraw
the Philippine claim to Sabah as a permanent
contribution to the strength and prosperity of the
ASEAN
Fourth Asean Minsterial Meeting in 1971 – Marcos
proposed an ASEAN common market, a limited free
trade area and expansion of intra-regional trade. Today,
after much work, ASEAN has AFTA.
1970-1985 – Marcos placed the primacy of ASEAN in is
foreign policy by making it his constant referemt in his
diplomatic agenda
One of the most important experiences of the PH as a
member of the ASEAN was the search for the solution to
the MNLF problem.
The leader of the MNLF, Nur Misuari, came to an
agreement with the PH government for the development
of Mindanao unde the Southern Philippined Council for
Peace and Development (SPCPD)
There is also an ASEAN Declaration on Mutual
Assistance in National Disasters
One of the big concerns of ASEAN during the Vietnam
War was the problem of the Indo-Chinese refugees
Community and Family Services International
(CFSI) – services were utilized in other SEA states by
the UNHCR
A more current initiative of the PH in ASEAN was the
establishmemt on 26 March 1994 of the East Asian
Growth Area, involving Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia,
and the Philippines. It is expected to facilitate the
movements of people, advisers, experts and technicians,
as well as of capital and banking services in the area.
The significant benefit of being a member of the
ASEAN was explained by Linda Low. She emphasizes
the resulting establishment, important network and
bonding of human relations among politicians,
bureaucrats, and business sectors.
North American Free Trade Association and European
Union in 1991 provoked the idea of Malysia for an East
Asian Economic Grouping (EAEG) later to become the
East Asian Economic Caucus (EAEC)
ASEAN has balanced national and regional interest in its
life span of 30 years
ASA AND ASEAN brough PH foreign relations with
SEA states to a most desirable level.
Fortunately, the growing ASEAN spirit has absorbed
previous animosities and set the members on very
sympathetic and respectful relations.
Conclusion
The substance of freedom included an expressed desire
to assert leadership in SEA, by influencing colonies to
attain frredom from their masters and also, the
subconscious need to enable SEAsians in enjoying the
liberal ideology of Europe which PH revolutionairies
invoked against the tyrannical rule of Spain.
During the Period of American rule, the PH did not
really maintain external relations in SEA, except for the
instanc when it supported Indonesian Communist Tan
Malaka.
Japenese rule from 1941-1945 produced a unity of
direction for Philippine external relations
It was the first association with Malaya and Thailand,
the Association of Southeast Asia (ASA) of 1961, which
revealed the developing ability if Philippine leaders in
moderating their policy positions to achive a balance
between national development and regional peace and
progress.
 A HISTORY OF PHILIPPINE-CHINA on the way home, the Sulu king, Batara, died. His
RELATIONS son, Tumahan was proclaimed
• Tumahan was given pension and accommodation in
by Benito O. Lim his three year residence in Tehchow to observe
mourning rights
pp. 201 - 208
• The memorial tribute to the emperor lead to the
• Sinibaldo de Mas enunciated the divide and rule exchange missions between 1420- 1424. The new
tactics of the Spanish Colonial government King, Kanlai Ipentun went to China and as his
• Varied ethnic groups inhabited the Ph archipelago predecessor, Kanlai also died on his way home
• Among all the ethnic groups, the Chinese • The most impressive mission was when Paduka Suli
immigrants and residents who were the object of all gave a seven ounce pearl to the court and stayed two
sorts of discrimination and harsh treatments years in Techow with his nephews
• There is a clear anti-Chinese sentiment; considered • Sulu Kings were not the only Filipino leaders who
as one of the unfortunate legacies of the colonial sought diplomatic and trade relations with china,
history chieftains from Pagasinan and Luzon organized
• Anti-Chinese sentiments in various degrees has tribute but unfortunately, they were not accorded the
same titles accorded to the Sulu Kings sice their gifts
dogged Ph-China relations since then
were not as fabulous and varied as the sulu kings
• For the most part of the relations with China prior to
• Tributatary missios were considered as diplomatic
western domination were characterized by friendly
initiatives, the Butuan missions can be viewed as the
trade and cultural exchanges
beginning of the official relations between the
Philippines and China
Pre-Colonial Period
• The residence of the heirs of Batara can be
• Chinese records show that it was the Filipinos who
considered as the first Philippine embassy to China
traveled to China long before the Chinese
themselves made their voyages to the Philippines
Spanish Colonial Period
• Earlier trade relations were transacted at Champa
• May 8, 1570- a Spanish fleet heading for Luzon
(Vietnam)
dashed with a Chinese trading fleet off Mindoro
• 982, Mai-i (Mindoro) traders who previously went to
• Four years after the founding of Manila, the “New
champa before proceeding to China, decided to
Kingdom of Castilla”, Limahong, a Chinese
circumvent that country and instead sail directly to
privateer, attacked it and succeeded in stopping
Canton
Martin de Goiti and his soldiers from expanding
• Ma-I traders were considered as tribute missions
north
• The first Philippine tribute mission was organized
• A year after Limahong’s assault, a viceroy of
by King Kiling of Butuan on March 17, 2001- its
Fujian sent an emissary named Omocan, to
goal was to request equal status with Champa
establish peaceful and friendly relations with the
• Not all visits to China were tribute or trade missions.
Spanish Colonial government
Between 1171-1172, Visayan pirates using the
• Governor Sande: planned an armed invasion of
Pescadores islands off the coast of Taiwan as staging
China
ground raided Ch’uan-Chou Bay
• Spanish-Chinese relations were further strained in
• By 1206, China was trading to Palawan, Mindoro
1593 when Chinese rowers of Governor Gomez
and Basilan
Dasmarinas galley mutinied and killed him and his
• A century after, a direct- China-Ph trade route was
men
established. Filipinos made use of Chinese junks to
• The Chinese were suspected of rebellious motive.
ply Fujian and Guangdong ports. Many Filipino
They were never to be trusted and should be
kings responded to Chinese invitations to trade
watched closely
• Chinese records of relations to Sulu date back to
• In 1573, Diego de Artiega wrote the Spanish crown
Yuan dynasty; there were contacts with the Islamic
for permission to survey China preparatory to trade
world as early as 651
and future conquest; the King disapproved of his
• The Eastern King of Sulu, Paduka Pa ha-la (Batara)
plan and instead asked him to win the friendship of
went to China and brought camphor, pearls, precious
the Chinese
stones, tortoise shell and a memorial inscribed in
• Discouraged from their plans of conquest, the
gold
Spanish governors in the Philippines pursued direct
• They were received by the Emperor and was given
trade with China
military escorts, they stayed for almost a month and
• Unable to pursue plans of conquest and direct trade,
the Spaniards settled for the increased traders as the
middleman
• This kind of arrangement led to the increased
number of Chinese merchants in and emigres to the
Philippines
• It also allowed the Chinese to maintain a dominant
position in the economy of the Philippines
• As a consequence, Spain was forced to pursue a
policy of compromise that allowed Chinese entry to
the Philippines and a dominant role in Philippine
business activities.
• This compromise led to an increased number of
Chinese in the Philippines
• 1603, the Chinese staged an insurrection about
24000 were slaughtered and 1500 were left
• Spanish attitudes toward the Chinese turned from
mere hostility to savage destructiveness when the
Chinese sided with the English when the latter
captured and occupied Manila
• When the Chinese left, whether they collaborated
with the British or not, were massacred and the
survivors were ordered expelled. Christian Chinese
were the only one allowed to remain
• Despite the conversion to Catholicism, the Chinese
were still victims of corruption of Spanish
administrators.
• Aside from the official taxes, colonial officials
would impose discriminatory and arbitrary taxes on
the Chinese
• Due to a series of decrees to hold Chinese
immigration and population constant, as well as the
fact that most Chinese were not practicing
Catholics, Spanish authorities used laws to exact all
kinds of imaginable fees and bribes.
• Although Spanish friars, found them difficult to
convert, they devised policies of attraction to make
conversion easier and beneficial to the Chinese.
Those who embraced Christianity and who married
Christians were allowed to live outside the confines
of the Parian
• In the years after the English invasion, Spanish
official policy toward the Chinese was expulsion
and restriction on immigration.
• When galleon trade and private entrepot trade
between Mexico and Manila ended, these economic
and immigration policies changed radically. Spain
lost its customs revenue from the trade
• With the independence of Mexico, the colonial
government in the Philippines lost its subsidies
from that country
• Spaniards had to seek new startegies of exploiting
Philippine resources
• They also encouraged Chinese immigration to the
Philippines and promoted the Manila-China junk
trade
• There was general agreement among the Spanish
colonial officials that the Chinese could help
develop the Philippine economy.
pp. 209 – 216
1832-1843: decrees were issued to eliminate the
pointless procedures and petty taxes which restricted
Chinese traders from active trade in the early years.
1939: Spanish governor general issued a decree
giving them the right to choose their occupation. Travel
within country was restricted but those wanted to travel
outside were granted 90 days.
1857: foreigners were allowed to participate in
government contracts.
1858: the Spaniards tried to facilitate Chinese
immigrations to the Philippines and to provide favorable
trade arrangements.
1864: Chinese entered, into a treaty with Spain to
allow more favors to Spanish ships at Chinese ports. In
return, Spain granted the most favored nation treatment
to Chinese merchants coming to the Philippines.
Despite this treaty, PH-China trade declined.
Western traders started to join this trade, they cut into
the junk trade. This decline led the Chinese businessmen
in the Philippines to shift their commercial strategy.
Spanish authorities were able to get away with
their massacres and atrocities because the Chinese in the
Philippines had no protection from their home
government. Another reason was the ignorance of these
Chinese people of the new environment, as well as fear
of both Spaniards and Filipino natives.
The Imperial edict of 1712 prohibited the Chinese
from either trading or residing in Southeast Asia. It was
only in the latter part of 19th century that the Chinese
government gave active support to its overseas citizens.
The main goals of the Spanish clergy was to use
the Chinese Christian converts in the Philippines to
proselytize in China.
But despite the Spanish attempts at social
engineering, the residents of Binondo had already
developed their own social and economic institutions
through centuries of uncertainties and prosecutions.
1843: newcomers were required to lodge in the
Alcaiceira de San Fernando so Spaniard officials could
watch over them.
1880: Chinese responded to Spanish
discriminatory policies by buying their safety. In
extreme cases, they fled to other parts of the Philippines
or other countries or they rebelled. For over 200 years,
there were 14 Chinese uprisings against the Spanish
authorities.
The Spaniards never allowed the Chinese to form
any form of government to supervise themselves.
Whatever Chinese government exited, they were all for
the interest of the Spaniards alone.
Other Chinese organizations permitted by the
Spaniards were religious and musical. (Long Sia Chinese
Musical Association and Tiong Ho Sia Chinese Musical
Association.
The unprecedented Chinese immigration in 1830
also led to the Chinese spread all over the Philippines.
They competed in all activities of fields of commerce,
commercial, trade and craft. Their success led to the rise
of anti-Chinese sentiments.
China began to establish consulates and embassies
abroad after it signed the Burlingame Treaty with the
US.
Ambassador Cheng Tsao-ju expressed China’s
interest in a new treaty to the Spanish Foreign Office. In
mid-1885, the Philippine colonial office rejected the
proposal for a consulate. When the Chinese learned this
resistance, they demanded that since article 50 of the
1864 treaty always favored the Spanish subjects in
China, Spain should be obliged to give Chinese the same
rights.
When the revolution broke out in 1896, all the
problems experienced by the Chinese led the local
Chinese to impress upon the home authorities in China
the urgency of establishing a consulate. But when they
requested again, they were only given a run-around.
They thought of other means of persuading
Spanish to come into terms with them such as the
prohibition of Philippine lottery tickets in China.
Reasons for interest in establishing a Philippine
consular office
1. Overseas remittance
2. Overseas contributions to famine relief and
coastal defense
3. And because they provided valuable information
about their countries of residence
The continuous bullying of Spaniards towards the
Chinese in the Philippines led to the Chinese to mobilize
themselves for mutual help and protection.
Many Chinese organizations like the Kung-so had
transformed the Chinese in the Philippines into a well-
organized community with their branches and affiliated
sub-organizations all over the Philippines.
American Colonial Relations
When the US took over, it implemented exclusion
law applying to the US, and extended it as well to the
Philippines. This law prohibited Chinese immigration in
the Philippines except for students and merchants. These
actions redefined subsequent Philippine-Relations under
American colonial regime.
Russel Story: “to admit Chinese in the Philippines
would be to invite a disturbing social, political and
economic disorder into the life of the Islands”
1904: when the Americans restored peace and order
in Manila, Chinese commerce and industry started to
flourish.
1905: American colonial government questioned
Chinese ownership of public land and issued an edict
demanding the return of these.
Despite implementation of exclusion laws in the
Philippines, the number of Chinese increased threefold
between 1903 and 1909 due to the colonial
government’s need for skilled labor and illegal entrance.
The opening of the consulate led to a series of visits
by emissaries and propagandists from both the warring
Manchu and the Sun Yat-sen factions on the mainland.
Eventually, followers of Sun Yat-sen quietly arrived,
carrying on secretly with their propaganda work in the
Philippines. He was interested in a revolution and not in
the slow construction of a nationalist base.
pp. 217 – 224
• The Chinese Commercial Council of the
Philippines revised its name and charter. Its
name was changed to Chinese General
Chamber of Commerce.
o Up until the Chinese Revolution of
1991, the Chamber of Commerce is
considered to be unofficial instrument of
the Manchu Government for
fundraising, for its efforts in retaining
the loyalty of overseas Chinese, and in
undertaking political propaganda, and
other intelligence work against the Sun
Yat-sen’s rebels. It was then changed
into Philippine Chinese General
Chamber of Commerce.
• The Philippine Chinese General Chamber of
Commerce was considered to be the most active
and influential organization in the Chinese
community. Not only it did help unite the
Philippine Chinese into a community but also
aligned them with China.
o The chamber had branches in nearly all
provinces, cities, and major towns of the
Philippines maintaining a school system,
 a social club, a cemetery and a modern
hospital.
• The Chinese government authorities as well as
the Chinese rebels discovered near the end of the
19th century that the overseas Chinese remitted a
sizeable sum of money to their relatives in the
mainland. As a consequence, the Chinese in the
mainland undertook propaganda campaigns to
build Chinese nationalism among overseas
Chinese.
o At various times, they (overseas
Chinese) were asked to contribute
funds for the defense of the Manchu
government while the opposite camp
solicited funds for the cause of the Sun
Yat-sen revolutionaries, besides the
usual funds for charitable causes.
• Bookkeeping Act of 10 February 1921
o This bookkeeping act required every
merchant (Chinese in particular) in the
Philippines to keep account of his
business in English, Spanish, or any
Philippine dialect.
o The Act caused a protest from the
Chinese businessme because for them,
the Act ostensibly encroached on their
right to carry on with trade. They hired
a European lawyer to bring their case to
Washington DC.
o On June 7, 1926 – the US Supreme
Court Justice William Howard Taft
ruled that the Bookkeeping Act was null
and void. A compromise bill was
proposed: the bookkeeping can be done
in any language for as long as the
merchants are willing to pay for a
translator one centavo per page. The
said compromise bill was effective until
1938 (as it was postponed by President
Quirino).
• By 1939, the total Chinese investment in the
Philippines was $100 million, second to the
US’s $3,315 million.
o The Chinese were forced to
concentrate to the trade and commerce
because they are not allowed to engage
in medicine, architecture, etc. Because
of this, over 90 percent of the Chinese
in the Philippines were merchants and
doing nearly all the commercial
business in the islands (prior to
WWII).
• When the WW II broke out, Filipino leaders
continued to pass laws discriminating the
Chinese.
o The Philippine National Assembly on
May 2, 1940 passed an Act restricting
the immigration quota of any
nationality to 500.
Relations Under the Republic (PHL-CHN)
President Manuel Roxas’ administration
• When the Philippines regained their
independence on July 4, 1946, the Republic of
China was one of the first countries to extend its
recognition.
• In October 1946, President Chen Chi-ping
called on President Roxas to forge a Treat of
Amity between the two countries.
o The treaty was supposed to renew the
friendship between China and the
Philippines and to elucidate the rights
and privileges for the citizens in each
other’s country. The Chinese asked
that similar rights granted to US
citizens be granted to Chinese
nationals, as well. They asked for a
provision guaranteeing to Chinese
nationals the right to engage in trade in
the Philippines.
• The Philippine government suspended the
immigration quota for Chinese nationals,
nationalized Chinese schools and retail trade,
and denied Chinese suspected as “Communist
subversives” due process. Many Chinese who
were long residents were summarily deported
without undergoing legal procedures.
• However, President Roxas’ anti-Communist
policy became the hallmark of the Philippine
foreign policy for over a quarter of a century.
President Elpidio Quirino
• Although he officially pledged to continue
Roxas’ policy of close ties with the United
States, Quirino stated that the Philippines will
maintain relations with its Asian neighbors
(most particularly the Nationalist China).
o “President Quirino has faithfully
interpreted the sentiments of the
Filipino people in committing our
country to the principle of Asian
solidarity in support of the right of
self-determination…”
• Quirino invited Chiang Kai-shek on a state visit
to the Philippines on July 10, 1949.
o Quirino, due to America’s strong
pressure to the Philippines, asserted to
Chiang the problem of Chinese
overstaying in the Philippines.
 o The permits of about 50,000 Chinese
refugees are already expired.
o However, Chiang did not pay attention
to it but rather stressed the importance
of Philippines’ commitment to
recognize Taipei as the only legitimate
government of China and consider the
leaders of mainland China as usurpers.
o Chiang even requested Philippine
assistance in forming a Pacific Union
to combat the People’s Republic of
China.
• President Quirino tried not to get embroiled in
the PRC-Taiwan rivalry and not to yield to any
further US pressures to take a strong stand
against PRC and other Communist countries.
• In October 1949 when the Chinese Communist
Party took over the government of China,
President Quirino did not condemn the new
government but kept a neutral stance.
pp. 225 – 232
7 January 1950 – President Quirino left for US to
undergo medical treatment
Quirino asserted that his country had no apprehension
over the Communists in China “as long as they don’t
bother us”
“we are not anti-Communist. We are non-Communist.
What we in the Philippines are interested in, is our
economic prosperity and our happiness. We are happy
under our present system of government
President Quirino did not think Communism was a
serious threat . He also was not in any position to pursue
any drastic shift in the Philippine foreign policy
President Quruino agreed not only to implement the
American reccomentdation but to appoint Ramon
Magsasay, the American choice, as Secretary of
Defense.
The Korean war and an increas in Hukbalahap
operations in Central Luzon worried American officials
in particular the military advisers in the Philippines.
Magsaysay’s campaigns agains the Huks, the
intensification of the war in Korea, and Chinese support
of the North Koreans led president Quieion ans his
advisers to change whatever plans they had of
recognizing the People’s Republic of China.
Quirino signed a Mutual Defense Pact with the United
States on August 30, 1951
President Ramon Magsaysay
Magsaysay won the 1953 presidential elections. He
made known his anti-communist stance and his pro-
American foreign policy
September 6, 1954 – Magsaysay agreed to oppose
further Communist aggression in Southeast Asia, but
proposed that the organanization should contain an
affirmation of the rights of all peoples to freedom and
independence and that the Philippines be given [;ain and
unequivocal guarantees of U.S help in case of third party
attack under the Mutual Defense Treaty
September 8, 1954 - SEATO charter was signed by RP,
USA, UK, France, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and
Thailand
During the Formosa Crusis, President Magsaysay
declared his unquivocal support for President
Eisenhower’s declaration that the defense of Formosa
was crucial to the defense of the rest of Asia
The Magsaysay government recognized the American
created government of South Vietnam
On the domestic front, Magsaysay adhered strictly to US
initiated trade embargoes again the Communist
Countries
He supported a bill to nationalize the retail trade. The
bill proposed that within ten years, retail trade was to be
nationalized and only Filipinos can engage in retail trade
Magsaysay signed Republic Act 1180 into law in 1954.
This led to a temporary strain in Philippine relations with
Taiwan
Magsaysay made it clear to the Philippine delegationn
that they must take no action that would be construed as
recognition of the PRC
Secretary Romulo was convinced that China wanted
peace, and when he was asked whether the Conference
was a big success, Romulo said: “no! It is the success of
the world”
Carlos P. Garcia promised to continue the foreign
policy of his predecessor: the fight against communism,
carrying out the Philippines’ commitment to SEATO and
Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States. He also
promised to take steps to forge closer relations to Asian
Neighbors
President Carlos P. Garcia
Under President Garcia, the Philippine policy on non-
recognition of the People’s Republuc of China remained
The Garcia government not only ignored the clamor to
soften its stance on China, but even banned travel to
Communist countries in April 1959
A joint communique was issued between President
Chiang Kai Shek and President Garcia with the two sides
agreeing to imporve mutual defense capabilities against
communism.
A protocol on Trade Relationsbetween the Philippines
and Taipei was also signed by President Carlos P. Garcia
and Minister Chen Chihmai stating that Taiwanese
buisnessmen and traders shall be granted the same
advantages enjoyed by the US Citizens in the PH
President Diosdado Macapagal
He won the elections on the promise that he would
eliminate government corruption and institute currency
devaluation
On foreign policy, he proposed on July 27 1962 the
organization of a greater Malayan Confederation – the
MAPHILINDO consisiting of Malaysia, Philippines and
Indonesia
MAPHILINDO – Asian problems should be solved by
Asian nations on the Asian way
The Asian way is mushawarah, the spirit of
consultations among the nations having problems, with
the friendly assistane of their neighbors in a determined
effort to patch up their differences by bringing to bear
the weight of brotherhood, neighborliness and common
interest.
The failure was due to the inability of both the
Philippines and Malaysia to resolve the Sabah issue
President Macapagal did not pursue new directions in
foreign policy
He reaffirmed the Philippines’ intention to honor its
commitment to the defense of SEA under the SEATO
Agreement
No doubt Macapagal successfully upheld the
Philippines’ anti-Beijing policy
Macapagal also rejected proposals by Filipino legislators
to trade with China in view of Philippine economic
difficulties
He was unable to send military aid to the Americans in
Vietnam due to strong opposition in Congress led by
Senate President Ferdinand Marcos
President Ferndinand E. Marcos
His election in 1965 marked shift away from this narrow
anti- communist concern
In his inaugural speech, he asked for a closer study of
Asia and for the Philippines to accelerate trade with
other Asian countries
pp. 233 – 240
Pres. Ferdinand Marcos
In 30 December 1963 – Ph foreign policy follows for
policy goals of US. PH FP appears as outcome of
antagonism between America and communist world.
His election marked a shift away from this narrow anti-
communist concern. Because it accelerated trade with
other Asian countries, and he saw exploration of socialist
and other market for PH products as an alternative.
He lifted travel bans on PH citizens to socialist
countries.
Resolution no. 26 – re- examination of Republic’s policy
towards communist countries thru Enverga committee
on 20 Feb 1968: ENVERGA REPORT
1. Socialist Europe is a vast exoport area for ph
product
2. Standard of living in all socialist countries
appeared to be rising
3. Socialist peoples of Europe have uniformly
demonstrated eagerness to friendly relations
with ph
4. Larger socialist counties have expressed
willingness and capabiltiies to help rapid devt of
Ph
5. Members of mission are convinced that there
will be no hidden strings to loans, tech aid, trade
and culttura exchanges
6. While America is important partner, there are
other big powers willing to help ph
After receiving this report, Marcos instructed DFA,
DOJ, DOC to:
1. Study legal obstacles
2. Consult with private sectors on possible
initiatives
*the preparedness of PH to trade with socialist countries
is for acceleration of economic development. However,
DFA warned that this trade will have many pitfalls due
to ‘inferior quality of communist products’ and
‘attachment of unfair conditions to their loans’.
*the Enverga report silent on China and DFA report
shows against trade with China and Vietnam.
Sec. Romulo – vowed to pursue a new PH forpol centred
on Asian orientation but with relaxed position towards
socialist states. For him, the significant aspect of the new
policy was its negation of ideology in conduct of foreign
relations.
This has advantages:
1. Diversification of export markets for Ph
products
2. Importation of capital goods from Socialist
countries
3. Enhancement of an independent PH forpol
Marcos also agreed that ASEAN leaders should pursue
`ASEAN STATE OF NEUTRALITY (Nov 27 1971)
- Example is the country’s support to the issue of
two-china
*Martial law, as he explained, is the only altenative to
save the country from communist subversion
*He stated that only intensified program of social and
economic devt could solve problem of internal
subversion and poverty in Ph. He also decided to embark
on policy that could use diplomacy to promote domestic
economic devt. Hence, Developmental Diplomacy is the
DFA’s forpol = and the expression used to denote
general policy guideline of seeking to satisfy on
maximum terms of economic and social devt of the
country.
pp. 241 – 248
1. It was perceived that with the expiration of
Laurel-Langley Trade Agreement socialist
countries could provide new markets
- End to “special relation with US”
- Opportunity for new business ventures
2. Resignation of President Nixon on August 9,
1974
- Policy makers question the wisdom of
keeping the US as a special economic
partner and military ally
- It was time to forge new partners and allies
3. March 1974 Ambassador Benjamin Romualdez
went to Beijing to resume talks for
normalization of relations
4. Imelda Marcos trip to China
- Highlighted by a meeting with Mao Zedong
- Trade agreement providing China’s sale of
petroleum and the purchase of major export
products from the PH
- Beijing signed an agreement to import
coconut oil, logs, and plywood, copper
concentrates and sugar
5. October 4 1974 – National Security Council and
Foreign Policy Council approved Marcos;
proposal to enter into full diplomatic relations
with China and Soviet Union
6. President Marcos speech on May 23, 1975 – PH
will make changes in its domestic and foreign
policies to protect its security:
1
Intensify relations with fellow members of the
ASEAN along a broader field
2
Pursue more vigorously the establishment of
diplomatic relations with Socialist states,
particularly the People’s Republic of China and
the Soviet Union
3
Seek closer identification with the Third World
with whom the Philippines shares similar
aspirations
4
Continue beneficial relations with Japan
5
Support Arab countries in their struggle for a
just and enduring peace in the Middle East
6
Find new basis, compatible with the emerging
realities in Asia, for a continuing healthy
relationship with the US
7. June 7-9, 1975 – Marcos signed a Joint
Communiqué normalizing relations between
China and PH
- Article II: “mutual respect for sovereignty
and territorial integrity, mutual non-
aggression, non-interference in each other’s
internal affairs….the settlement of disputes
by peaceful means and condemnation of all
foreign aggression and subversion”
• PH considers this as very significant
- Article III: “The PH recognizes the People’s
Republic of China as the sole legal
governments and respects the position of the
Chinese government that there is but one-
China and that Taiwan is an integral part of
Chinese territory
• China considers this as most important
- Article IV: resolves citizenship status of
nationals of either country
- Article V: calls on both governments to
adopt active measures for development of
trade and economic relations
8. Filipino-Chinese agreement was inspired by US
rapprochement of the Peoples’ Republic of
China
- PH-China relations resulted in the relaxation
of tension and in beneficial agreement for
trade, cultural and scientific exchanges and
cooperation
9. First issue resolved was “overstaying Chinese”
- Chinese were given option to choose
Philippine or Chinese citizenship
10. Letter of Instruction No. 270 – provided mass
naturalization of aliens by Presidential Decree
 11. Presidential Decree No. 275 – repatriation of
Filipino women who had lost their citizenship
through marriage to alien, and of natural-born
Filipinos who had lost their citizenship in some
other way
12. Article IV of the Joint Communiqué and LOI
No. 270 removed a key source of tension and
conflict between the two respective governments
that had festered since the 19th century
13. Diplomatic relations with China had
repercussions even in the politics of local
Chinese community – the Federation of Filipino-
Chinese Chamber of Commerce (FFCCC)
- Before the established diplomatic relations,
the Federation was closely associated with
KMT (Kuomintang – Chinese political party
in Taiwan) and the Taiwan government
- FFCCC raised the question if the PRC flag
should fly side by side with the Philippine
flag
• Taiwan: only PH flag should be
displayed
• Beijing: both PH and PRC flag should
be displayed
• Marcos: only the PH flag should be
displayed
- Conflict over the flag raised fears instead of
integrating the Chinese into the Philippine
community
- Chinese community divided to pro-PRC and
the pro-KMT factions
- Flag controversy showed that the KMT
Faction of the Federation and Taiwan
officials remained influential in PH politics
compared to pro-Beijing faction
14. PD No. 176 – used as a precaution against
possible use of Chinese schools for Communists
indoctrination
15. Chinese in the PH were socially isolated so they
were forced to establish their own schools
16. After PH independence, Chinese schools were
legitimized by the Treaty of Amity
- However this arrangement changed with the
Constitution of 1972which mandated the
nationalization of all schools
- All education institutions are under the
supervision and regulation of the stat
17. Filipinization placed the Chinese school under
the control and management of Filipino citizens
and followed a Philippine curricular
- To hasten the process of assimilation and
integration of the Chinese youth into
mainstream PH society
pp. 249 – 262
Internal Security
Major concerns of the PH in forging diplomatic relations
with the PRC was the likelihood of Chinese support of
local Communist rebels
Declaration of Martial Law – imminent threat of
communism
Premier Zhou Enlai – Beijing will not interfere in the
internal affairs of the PH
PD No. 885 – issued 8 months after normalization with
the PRC
- Revised the Anti-Subversion Act and eliminate all
reference to the Communist Party of the Philippines
Normalization was led to an era of good relations
Benefits of Diplomatic Relations with the PRC
PRC demonstrated their willingness to help ease the
economic difficulties of the PH
- Sell high quality petroleum to the PH
1975 June 7 – signing of Joint Communique to
normalize relations
- Agreements were signed to increase trade, cultural,
and scientific exchanges
MOA was signed on 1976 February 5 for the exhibition
of China’s products in Manila (strengthen ties)
1978 March 12 – Vice Prime Minister and Vice
Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party Li Hsien-
nien and Foreign Minister Huang Hua visited the PH
- Agreement on scientific and technical cooperation
1980 October 13 – loan from the People’s Republic for
the purchase of 500 mini hydro power plants
1981 August 6 – post-war history, a Chinese prime
minister came on a four day state visit to the PH
PM Zhao Ziyang
- Agreed to continue supplying crude oil to the PH
- Pleged that CH will not intervene in the internal
affairs nor will seek to impose its policies in Asia
During Imelda Marcos’s visit the Chinese agreed to
increase the trade volume (1984)
The long term relation with Taiwan was grounded on an
anti-Communist stance from 1946 to 1975
The Aquino Administration
Marked a return to democracy and restoration of civil
rights
The administration faces large economic, political, and
social problems
Assassinations of adherents of left and right ideologies
Confusion and disorder from the administrative echelons
Economic production was hamstrung by Marcos-owned
establishments
The government was in no position to formulate
coherent foreign policy
The PH-CH relations came to a standstill
1988 – Aquino administration made a state visit to China
PH officials would yield to Taiwanese pressure due to
growing business and economic interests
- The increase in Taiwan’s trade resulted to the
decrease of the volume of trade from the PRC
- The open political environment that allowed Taiwan
for a one-China, two government policy
Taiwan’s diplomatic offense made the “money
diplomacy”
Advocates of the two-China policy wanted to continue
the relation with Taiwan (it gives the resources they
need)
Taiwan – member of Asian Development Bank and
GATT
Aquino administration – adhered to one-China policy
1988 – Taiwan became the number four trading partner
- Taiwan government investments as merely an
attempt to rehabilitate the economy
1989 February – PH and CH signed an agreement to
expand bilateral trade
1989 April 14 – Aquino left for China to strengthen
diplomatic ties
- Reiterated China’s policy of non-interference in the
PH domestic affairs
- Agreement to increase bilateral trade
Manila Taipei Agriculture and Fisheries Agreement with
Taiwan official
- After Beijing learned of the agreement they sent a
strong protest to the Department of Foreign Affairs
claiming that the agreement was illegal (violated the
one-China policy)
- Raul Manglapus, that the DFA warned that such
actions would violate the policy (DFA always
opposed the agreement)
1996 – The PH Senate passed a resolution nullifying the
agreement
PH relations with Taiwan – downward trend
1991 November 2 – President Aquino and Executive
Secretary Joker Arroyo stated that if the PH pursued ties
with Taiwan it was only to establish economic relations
Her six years in office – focused on talks with Taiwan
officials for economic support and investments
Near the end of her term Taiwan withdrew several of the
mega-industrial investments
- The controversial Luzon Petrochemical Plant
Close PH-Taiwan relations turned back the RP-PRC
cooperation
The Ramos Administration
Ramos eased the Tension between global superpowers
- Engineered the economic recovery
- Pursuit of peace negotiations with the Muslims and
Communist rebels
- Neutralizing quarreling factions within the military
Trade Liberalization – opened flood gates to imports
(which elbowed out manufacturers and consumer goods
produced at home)
- Diverted capital away from long-term investments in
agriculture, agri-business failed to nurture an
integrated network of nation-wide industries and
manufacturing
- Agricultural and manufacturing productivity
remained low
Ramos government inherited the close ties with Taiwan
- Seeks to promote friendly relations with the PRC
- Proclaim adherence to one-China policy
The RP-Taiwan connection – major irritants in RP-PRC
relations
Chain of PH-Taiwan linkages intensified Taiwan’s
economy
Taiwanese undertook an aggressive economic blitz
- Taiwan has been further reinforced with the
employment of thousands of Filipino OFWs
PH-PRC relations was hostile and almost nothing
President Marcos re-established diplomatic relations in
1976; most government institutions are not fully
prepared to implement the new policy
- Major reason for the relation = ensure that no aid
will be given to the CPP and its armed sector
- PRC was more concerned with its own internal
reforms and relations with US, Japan, and Europe
Ramos meeting with Lee Teng-Hui aroused suspicion
from the PRC (the PH was veering towards two-China
policy)
Existence of numerous bilateral and international
agreements (personal relations developed)
1992 July 20 – PH signed an agreement with the China
concerning Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of
Investments
Instrument of Ratification by the PH signed by Ramos
and Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon
1993 April 3 – President Ramos went to a state visit to
PRC on improvement of commercial relations
- Sino-PH Joint Committee on Scientific and
Technological Cooperation signed the Tenth
protocol on Scientific and Technological
Cooperation
1996 July 29 – Renato de Villa (Defense Secretary)
signed the agreement on the establishment of the Offices
of the Defense and Armed Forces Attaches (ODAFAs)
- establish their respective ODAFAs at the embassy
President Jiang Zemin – invited to visit the PH after
the APEC summit of 1996 (first time the highest Chinese
official made a state visit)
- During the visit two agreements were signed
1. Establishment of additional consulates
a. Consulate-general in Guangzhou
b. Consulate-general in Davao
2. Stipulated the maintenance of the Consulate
General of the RP in Hong Kong
Controversial issues between PH and China = rival
claims on the Spratlys Islands (west of Palawan)
- Both countries agreed to shelve the sovereignty issue
and adhere to the ASEAN Manila Declaration
(claimants to Spratlys are to settle the dispute
peacefully)
1995 – Recurrent entry of Chinese patrol boats
Critics noted that the inconsistent character of the PH
protest was seasonal
- Season of budget proposal the PH military
intelligence would report Chinese presence
- With or without the China threat the Department of
Defense has no assets to defend
Officials from DFA managed to convince the Chinese to
sign the Code of Conduct agreement (procedure and
protocol)
- The code is the current basis for resolving
differences
Belief of both sides is the underwater resources are
considerable thus despite the fact they agreed to shelve
the sovereignty issue the controversy continues
Under the Ramos Administration – PH foreign policy
with respect to China veered away from the
compartmentalized approach
Crisis emerged in the region = Asian currency crisis
Currency predicament requires close partnership and
effort by Asian countries to embark on new forms of
cooperation
Mutual interest to develop friendly, stable, and mutually
beneficial PH-CH relations
Challenge to the post-Ramos period is how to cope with
rapid pace of change
Issues can no longer be compartmentalized
- Economic issues to be dealt with by the APEC or
WTO
- Security issues to be dealt with through separate
bilateral security treaties