Tag: ASEAN
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ASEAN-JAPAN: Embracing Diverse Partnerships for the Future
Overview of the Seminar The ASEAN Studies Centre hosted a pivotal seminar on ASEAN-Japan cooperation, tracing the evolution of a relationship that began with dialogue in 1973. As ASEAN’s first dialogue partner, Japan has long played a central role in the region’s social and economic development. The seminar highlighted how ASEAN-Japan partnerships have evolved from…
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Human Networks: The Unseen Anchor of Maritime Security in the Indo-Pacific
Introduction: The power of people over protocol In the Indo-Pacific, high seas and busy trade lanes collide with complex political rivalries and natural disasters. While navies and coast guards often take center stage in headlines, the real backbone of maritime security is human: trusted networks that connect responders, operators, and communities across borders. The late-2025…
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Philippines Vehicle Sales Hit Record in 2025, Yet Miss Target
Record-Breaking Year for Philippine Vehicle Sales The Philippine automotive sector closed 2025 on a high, recording a total vehicle sales of 491,395 units. The figure marks a new all-time high for the industry, underscoring a resilient market as buyers returned to showrooms amid improving economic conditions. However, despite the record, the year proved elusive in…
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ASEAN Exits 2025 Bruised but Not Broken
Introduction: A Year of Strain and Resilience As 2025 closes, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) walks away from the year with a bruised but enduring sense of resilience. The region faced intensified geoeconomic pressures, rising unilateralism from major powers, internal political tensions, and persistent supply chain disruptions. Yet, when compared with other regions,…
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ASEAN Exits 2025 Bruised but Not Broken: Lessons and Outlook
Introduction: A Year of Trial for Southeast Asia The year 2025 presented Southeast Asia with a complex mix of geoeconomic pressures, rising unilateralism, internal tensions, and global supply chain disruptions. ASEAN member states faced inflation, capital volatility, and shifts in trade norms as external powers recalibrated their relationships with the region. Yet despite the bruises,…
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ASEAN Exits 2025 Bruised but Not Broken: Navigating a Turbulent Year
Setting the Stage: A Tumultuous 2025 for Southeast Asia The year 2025 presented ASEAN with a complex mix of challenges. Geoeconomic pressures intensified as global trade dynamics shifted, unilateral moves tested regional cohesion, and supply chains faced renewed vulnerabilities. Yet, despite these headwinds, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations demonstrated a capacity to adapt, coordinate,…
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Philippines hosts ASEAN Myanmar stakeholder talks to reignite stalled peace bid
Background: A pivotal ASEAN effort under Philippine leadership The Philippines, as the current chair of ASEAN, has positioned itself at the center of efforts to revive Myanmar’s stalled peace process. With Ma. Theresa Lazaro, the Philippines’ Foreign Affairs Secretary, taking on the role of ASEAN’s special envoy to the crisis, the regional bloc has shifted…
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ASEAN chair Philippines hosts Myanmar stakeholders meeting to push stalled peace bid
Philippine-led push for Myanmar peace gains traction at high-level ASEAN gathering The Philippines, holding the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), is pressing ahead with a renewed effort to advance the stalled Myanmar peace process. At a pivotal stakeholders’ meeting held in Tagaytay, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, who…
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Philippines Hosts Myanmar Meeting to Revive Peace Bid
ASEAN Chair Philippines Convenes Myanmar Stakeholders’ Meeting The Philippines, leading ASEAN as chair this year, convened a high-level stakeholders’ meeting in Tagaytay to press forward the stalled peace bid for Myanmar. The session marks a recorded push by Manila to mobilize regional influence and humanitarian relief amid ongoing violence and political turmoil in the country…
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Chairman’s Night: Concepcion Takes ASEAN Private Sector Chair
Overview: A Night of Celebration and Collaboration A night of celebration drew together power players from business, government, and diplomacy to honor the leadership transition within the ASEAN Private Sector Group. The event highlighted the collaborative spirit that underpins ASEAN’s approach to regional growth, investment, and sustainable development. Attendees came to witness the formal handover…