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FMJ set to visit Brunei, Singapore
By Nidz Godino
“I presume for all meetings and as well as speech of the President, his keynote address, this WPS issue will be touched but I do not wish to preempt statements of the President ,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary Aileen Mendiola-Rau said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to advance country’s position in West Philippine Sea (WPS) when he addresses top military officials and experts from different parts of the world in Singapore next week.
Marcos will deliver keynote address at the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue organized by International Institute of Strategic Studies on May 31.
Before Singapore trip, Marcos and First Lady Liza Marcos will visit Brunei on May 28 to 29 upon invitation of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
Mendiola-Rau said several memoranda of understanding will be signed with Brunei, including those on priority areas ranging from agriculture to food security, maritime cooperation and tourism.
The President is the first Philippine leader to address Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier defense summit, according to Mendiola-Rau.
Marcos’ visit was upon invitation of former Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Mendiola-Rau expects the President to touch on maritime disputes with China in his keynote address.
Mendiola-Rau added summit is expected to include delegation from China.
“Only one leader delivers this address every year, and President Marcos was given distinct honor for this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue,” Mendiola-Rau said.
DFA spokesperson Maria Teresita Daza said Shangri-La Dialogue “gives good platform for country to actually expound and articulate its position on key issues.”
Philippines has countered China’s repeated aggression against Filipino vessels in WPS. Beijing continues to disregard 2016 arbitral ruling favoring Manila and rejecting its expansive claims in South China Sea.
Through this Shangri-La Dialogue, Mendiola-Rau said, Philippines will have opportunity to provide stakeholders “ important source of accurate, objective information on international strategic issues important to the region.”
Started in 2002, Shangri-La Dialogue is annual inter-governmental security forum held in Singapore. It is organized by IISS, leading think tank specializing in security and defense issues.
Dialogue brings together defense ministers, military leaders and senior defense officials, as well as business leaders and security experts, across Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America and beyond to discuss critical security challenges.
On sidelines of defense summit, Marcos will also meet with new Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and new Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Daza said.
Philippines and Singapore commemorate 55th year of their diplomatic relations this year. Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan recently visited Manila.
Mendiola-Rau said Marcos is also likely to have several side meetings with some heads of governments during the event.
Meanwhile, economic cooperation is likely to top agenda during bilateral meeting of Marcos and Bolkiah, Mendiola-Rau added.
“As you know, Brunei is powerhouse in terms of energy but they are also good market for us,” she said.
Mendiola-Rau said Marcos’ first state visit to Brunei would provide avenue for two Southeast Asian leaders to “take stock of progress of our commitments and ongoing bilateral undertakings, and fine-tune them accordingly.”
“Aside from being part of tradition of ASEAN,Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders visiting fellow ASEAN countries, this state visit is in line with the President’s commitment to continue exploring avenues for economic growth and job opportunities for Filipinos as business forum is aimed to boost trade and investments into the country,” she said.
Daza said the President will also meet with Filipino community and business leaders living in Brunei and highlight contribution of more than 25,000 Filipinos there.
FMJ will also engage with top business leaders in Brunei at forum aimed at promoting trade and investment relations between two nations.
Daza said Philippines and Brunei are “strong regional partners” and are members of ASEAN, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area.
Philippines and Brunei are also claimants to disputed South China Sea.
Diplomatic relations between Philippines and Brunei were established on Jan. 1, 1984
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