In the context of the ongoing ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in Cebu, Him Raksmey, Executive Director of CCRS, shared his thoughts with Cambodianess on the importance of the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairmanship in managing regional challenges. His comments are quoted as follows:
Him Raksmey, executive director of the Cambodian Center for Regional Studies, thinks that Malaysia did its best in mediating between Cambodia and Thailand, the Philippines will try to do the same this year.
Additionally, ASEAN’s capability in resolving regional challenges also depends on the extent of the consensus of all member states.
“The Philippines, as ASEAN Chair, in close cooperation with ASEAN members, will undertake efforts at its disposal under ASEAN frameworks to support Cambodia and Thailand towards this very important priority,” Raksmey said.
He thinks the Philippines should grow regional responsibilities to enhance the association’s relevance, including fostering the community building efforts and managing relations among the member states and with its key external partners, while also working as a regional bloc to address many regional challenges.
These include navigating US-China intensified competition, tensions in the South China Sea along with other maritime challenges, the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict and the Myanmar crisis.
This year, the Chair, with the support of other member states, must navigate multiple terrains, ranging from domestic, regional, and international contexts, and try to forge a common regional equilibrium that promotes the ASEAN relevance while also taking into account the interests of all member states, Raksmey said.