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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000105 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2012 
TAGS: PREL ECIN PTER ASEAN RU XE CH JA KN KS BM
RP 
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES WELCOMES ASEAN-RELATED SUMMITS ANEW 
 
REF: A. 06 MANILA 5015 
     ¶B. 06 MANILA 4935 
     ¶C. 06 MANILA 4855 
 
MANILA 00000105  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: CDA Paul W, Jones, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (C)  In a discussion with Charge on January 8, President 
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo reiterated the Philippine 
Government's determination to host successful ASEAN-related 
summits, including the East Asia Summit, in Cebu January 
13-15 following their postponement from the original December 
dates due to typhoon concerns (refs b and c).  She reiterated 
that a key theme of the EAS will be on energy security.  She 
said that the EAS would not discuss WTO/Doha Round, as 
planned in December, because WTO chief Pascal Lamy would not 
attend, and he had not advanced any new thinking on the Doha 
round at the APEC summit in Hanoi, anyway. 
 
U.S. and Regional Architecture 
------------------------------ 
 
¶2.  (C)  President Arroyo told Charge she hoped the U.S. 
would accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, as other 
ASEAN partners have, even without any intention to take part 
in the EAS.  The 30th anniversary of U.S.-ASEAN ties 
presented a symbolic opportunity for U.S. accession, she 
continued, adding that perhaps Secretary Rice could do so at 
the ASEAN Regional Forum in the Philippines in summer 2007. 
Speaking more broadly on regional architecture, President 
Arroyo said that, without U.S. participation, the EAS would 
not develop beyond its current form.  China remained 
supportive of the EAS, she believed, partly because it 
offered a forum for talks with Japan and South Korea.  Russia 
wanted to join, but its links to ASEAN remained too weak to 
justify its participation, since EAS is ASEAN-driven. 
Pressed on complementarity between EAS and APEC, President 
Arroyo observed that the U.S. role makes APEC relevant, but 
APEC's lack of a permanent secretariat might make its 
follow-up on issues raised in EAS less systematic than ASEAN, 
which has a permanent secretariat. 
 
Summit Security/Terrorism 
------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U)  Speaking from ground zero of terrorist activity on 
the southern island of Jolo, President Arroyo told the press 
on January 8 that "our fight against terror goes hand in hand 
with the global and regional effort, and as we face the ASEAN 
Summit, we would like to assure all our allies in East Asia 
and beyond that the Filipino soldiery and people are on watch 
every hour of the day, determined to do their share to defeat 
terror for a more secure and safer world."  Philippine 
officials have insisted that they are prepared to meet any 
potential security threats and reassured the summit 
participants of their safety. 
 
ASEAN agenda 
------------ 
 
¶4.  (C)  Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs for Policy Erlinda 
Basilio confirmed separately to A/DCM that the substance of 
the summits would remain as originally planned (ref a).  The 
ASEAN Summit itself will focus on "building a community of 
caring societies," with expectations of adopting a Convention 
on counterterrorism.  Migrant workers will be another 
important topic, although some ASEAN diplomats in Manila have 
commented privately that this is mostly a Philippine effort 
to promote and protect its own Overseas Filipino Workers, 
rather than a common concern.  The leaders will receive 
recommendations from the Eminent Persons Group on an ASEAN 
Charter and will task a new group to provide a draft at the 
next summit, possibly including some enforcement mechanisms. 
The EAS will likely issue a declaration on regional issues, 
including Burma and North Korea. 
 
Attendance 
---------- 
 
¶5.  (U)  Foreign Ministers of Japan and Australia will miss 
 
MANILA 00000105  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
the ministerial sessions set for January 11, but their prime 
ministers will attend the weekend summits.  Timor Leste's 
foreign minister is still expected to participate in a 
ceremony acceding to the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, but 
there is now doubt that the French Foreign Minister will be 
able to do so.  France has formally already signed the TAC, 
however, according to the French Embassy. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶6.  (C)  The summits have attracted enormous attention in the 
Philippines, with much preoccupation for how the country, and 
its second city Cebu, will be perceived by leaders of sixteen 
key partner countries.  The Philippines remains interested in 
promoting the U.S. relationship with ASEAN and the EAS. 
 
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm 
 
You can also access this site through the State Department's 
Classified SIPRNET website: 
http:// www.state.sgov.gov/ 
Jones