Ramos calls for ASEAN unity amid threats to group’s stability

Former President Fidel Ramos. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Former President Fidel Ramos called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to maintain its solidarity against all kinds of threats, saying that internal issues among countries have affected the bloc’s stand on the West Philippine Sea dispute.

“ASEAN must maintain its united solidarity against all kinds of threats, environmental, socio-economic, as well as political threats that now exist which may not have existed during its founding 45 years ago. Kaya ang kailangan natin, mga kasama sa ASEAN is really unity of purpose, solidarity in values and teamwork in ASEAN building,” Ramos said in an interview Friday morning on the sidelines of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) celebration of the 45th foundation of the ASEAN.

He said internal issues had been affecting the bloc and that each member nation had been pushing for their primary national interests.

“That’s the problem. Each member nation still has its primary national interest and in the case of Cambodia and some other countries and the Asian mainland that are too close to certain big neighbors, which i would not mention anymore. The important thing is for ASEAN, as a group, to remain solid because we have already agreed on the declaration of the code of conduct,” Ramos said.

Ramos said the declaration of the code of conduct (DOC), which was signed in 2002 by China and ASEAN during that year’s ministerial meeting of the bloc, provided for peaceful diplomatic means on the issue of the West Philippine Sea.

“But as far as I’m concerned, it is our sea,” Ramos said.

ASEAN foreign ministers had agreed on key elements for the proposed code of conduct (COC) in the West Philippine Sea, but they failed to make a unified stand on how to deal with the territorial disputes with China at the conclusion of their 45th annual meeting in Phnom Penh.