In recent years, a myriad of issues has emerged to destabilize the Indo-Pacific region, with challenges brought about by climate change, resource overextraction, and growing great power competition being among the many flashpoints in the region. Responding to these challenges, France has spearheaded renewed European interest in the Indo-Pacific, itself a resident Indo-Pacific power with overseas territories in both oceans.
Asia Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation kicked off the Track Two Observer Discussion Forum Series last May 21 with a webinar with the theme, “ASEAN and the Myanmar Coup,” focusing on February Coup that occurred in Myanmar that placed the State Administration Council military junta in power and the aftermath of the ASEAN Special Summit on Myanmar convened in Jakarta in April 2021.
Last February 25, Asia Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation, in partnership with the Center for Philippine Studies of Jinan University, organized a Joint Webinar on The Philippines’ COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy and Diplomacy. The joint webinar sought to discuss the issues surrounding the Philippine Government’s current vaccine procurement and distribution strategy, from the initial processes with the Department of Health, the programs that local government units have implemented for address the pandemic, to the geopolitical context and effects of the Philippines’ COVID strategy.
Asia Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation Inc. and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung hosted a Track Two Observer webinar looking at the prospects of Southeast Asia’s economic recovery while reeling from the recession brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The aim of the webinar was to delve deeper on the effects of COVID-19 on ASEAN regional economic cooperation and the efforts being carried out to mitigate and help in the region’s economic recovery. Dr. Alvin Ang of the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development presented “Connecting ASEAN: Connectivity is a Necessity in the Pandemic and Beyond” which examines individual ASEAN member states current economic status and prospects for connectivity. Assistant Secretary Junever Mahilum-West of the Department of Foreign Affairs discussed the efforts taken by ASEAN as a whole and how the Philippine took part in such measures.